President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday signed into law the bill extending the validity of Philippine passports from five years to 10 years.
Under the Republic Act 10928, regular passports shall be “valid for a period of 10 years. Provided, however, that for individuals under 18 years of age, only a passport with five-year validity shall be issued,” the law reads.
The newly-signed law amends the Section 10 of the Republic Act 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.
The law also authorizes the Department of Affairs to limit passport validity to less than 10 years “whenever in the national economic interest or political stability of the country such restriction is necessary”.
The move to extend the passport’s validity is part of the President’s promises during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Tutal kayo naman ang gagawa ng batas, you’re the ones who will pass the law, even if you make it good for 30 years, okay ako, bahala kayo. Basta stretch a little bit,” Duterte urged lawmakers in his first SONA.
