The House of Representatives, voting 216 for, without negative votes and abstentions, last night approved on third and final reading House Bill 4767 extending the validity of Philippine passports to ten years.
HB 4767, a consolidation of 20 bills on the matter, amends Section 10 of the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 or Republic Act 8239 which states that all passports issued to Filipinos are valid for five years.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has endorsed enactment of the measure which will conform “to international best practices.”
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs report said the bill will “ease the burden of the Overseas Filipino Workers, seafarers, business persons, and the traveling public from having to renew their passports every five years.”
(Ben R. Rosario)