President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has given his approval to the “New Philippine Passport Act,” aimed at modernizing the passport application procedures across the country. According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the law seeks to enhance accessibility and streamline processes, particularly benefiting senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and individuals with special needs or unique circumstances.
This recent legislation, signed on March 11, replaces Republic Act No. 8239, also known as the Passport Act of 1996. One significant provision of the new law allows the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to offer offsite and mobile passport services beyond consular offices and foreign service posts (FSPs).
Moreover, the DFA is now tasked with facilitating accommodations for passport applications from various groups, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women, minors aged seven years old and below, solo parents, OFWs, and those with emergency situations or exceptional cases.
In terms of security measures, the law imposes severe penalties for unauthorized handling of passports, with potential imprisonment of at least 12 years and fines ranging from P1 million to P2 million. It addresses offenses such as forgery and misuse of passports, with penalties ranging from six to 15 years of imprisonment and fines from P100,000 to P250,000.
The legislation also aims to curb unfair practices in passport issuance, prescribing penalties such as suspension, dismissal, fines of up to P250,000, and a maximum of six years’ imprisonment.
Regular passports, intended for Filipino citizens ineligible for diplomatic or official passports, will be issued under the new law, catering to government officials or employees traveling abroad for personal reasons. Additionally, government officials, employees, and their families may hold two passports simultaneously during their tenure in office.
The New Philippine Passport Act will come into effect 15 days after its official publication.
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