MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday signed into law Republic Act 10928 which extends the validity of Philippine passports to 10 years.
As provided under RA 10928, “regular passports under this Act 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 new law further provides that the issuing authority may limit the validity to less than 10 years whenever, in the national economic interest or political stability of the country, such restriction is necessary.
RA 10928 mandates the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations and adopt best practices to ensure that the provisions of the Act are implemented in convergence with necessary reforms to make the passport processing system seamless, convenient and pro-people.
The law also provides that the production and security of passports should be at par with technological advances and world standards. Cielito Reganit/PNA-northboundasia.com