PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday signed into law three bills extending the validity of Philippine passports and driver’s licenses, and establishing free Internet access in public places.
Republic Act No. 10928, which amends Republic Act No. 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, extends the validity of Philippine passports up to 10 years, except for individuals under 18 years of age, who will still have passports with five-year validity.
Former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said she was elated that extending the passport validity had been signed by President Duterte.
“Extending the passport validity from five to 10 years has been one of the first bills [House Bill No. 487] I filed at the start of the present Congress because I have always believed that the 5-year validity is too short considering the tedious process and the cost required to renew a passport,” Arroyo said.
“With this new law, I am hopeful that Filipinos’ unimpaired exercise of their constitutional right to travel will be enhanced,” she added.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the bills were anti-red tape measures that hopefully would cut the queues and the time in applying for what were essential documents used by millions of Filipinos.
He noted that extending the legal life of a passport and a license is a commonsensical solution to the inconveniences experienced by the public in the course of acquiring them.
“The benefit of having a five-year driver’s license is sadly diluted by the continuing non-availability of the license cards. We hope this will lead to the wiping out of the backlog in delivery,” said Recto.
Another important reminder, he said, is that the longer validity of these documents should not prompt an increase in their price tags.
He said the established rule in setting fees for government-issued documents is that whatever charges imposed should merely recover the cost in processing and producing them.
“In short, fees to be retained by the DFA and the LTO must be just enough to recoup expenses in rendering this public service, and not to profit from it,” said Recto.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, the issuing authority for Philippine passports, “may limit the period of validity to less than 10 years, whenever in the national economic interest or political stability of the country such restriction is necessary,” the RA stated.
The DFA is likewise asked to issue an implementing rules and regulation “to ensure that the provisions of this act are implemented in convergence with the necessary refoms to make passport processing system seamless, convenient and pro-people,” the RA read.
Also signed by Duterte is Republic Act No. 10930, which extends the validity of driver’s licenses up to five years.
If a driver commits no traffic violation within five years, he may be entitled to a renewal of 10 years, the RA read.
When renewed, the driver’s license, whether professional or non-professional, will be given 10 years’ validity as long as the license holder did not commit any violation of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code (RA 4136) and other traffic rules and regulations.
“(P)rior to the issuance of said license, the applicant shall present himself/herself in person and have his/her photograph taken by the LTO (Land Transportation Office). All drivers’ licenses issued shall be signed in the presence of the LTO Head or his/her deputies and shall bear, among others, the full name, date of birth, height, weight, sex, color of eyes, blood type, complete current address, biometrics, license number, and its date of issue and expiration,” RA 10930 said.
Stricter requirements in obtaining drivers licenses would also be implemented, with the LTO asked to craft prerequisites and guidelines to “ensure that these are issued only to deserving applicants with sufficient driving skills and knowledge.”
A fine amounting to P20,000 will be imposed if an applicant for a driver’s license is found to have misrepresented material information, connived with the issuing officer, falsified documents, or cheated during examinations.
In addition, the license of an erring applicant will be revoked and the applicant will be banned from applying for two years.
Also signed by Duterte is Republic Act No. 10929, also known as the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, which covers national and local government offices, public basic educations institutions, state universities and colleges, as well as Technical Education and Skills Development Authority institutions, public hospitals, and others.
Under the Program, connecting to public Internet access points will be free of charge with a minimum internet speed per user at 2 Mbps or as prescribed by the National Broadband Plan, whichever is higher.
The free Internet service provided will be separate from the Internet service used for back-end computer and information systems in government offices, and technical solutions restricting access may be employed when a clear and present technical risk has occurred. With Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel Cruz and PNA
