STARTING next Jan. 1, the Department of Foreign Affairs will issue and implement the 10-year validity of the Philippine passports, in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s executive order on the period of extension.
Department Order No, 010-2017 issued by the DFA, or the implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10938 (2017), also known as “An Act Extending the Validity of Philippine Passport,” said the rules remained except for the 10-year validity passport.
The DFA said the 10-year validity passport would cost P950, which is the current price of a five-year passport.
“However, in accordance with the DFA’s mandate to improve the passport processing system to make it seamless, convenient and pro-people, and to ensure that the production and security of passports are at par with technological advances and world standards, additional fees may be imposed in the future for passports that will have enhanced features,” the DFA stated.
The changes in the IRR will be for those Filipinos with age of 18 years old and above, shall apply for the 10-year validity passport; while those individuals under 18 years old are not required to avail themselves of the 10-year passbook and can be issued a five-year validity instead.
DFA Office for Public Diplomacy acting director Geronimo Suliguin said those whose passport had yet to expire could still use the old passports.
“As long as the passport being held is still valid, there’s no need to renew unless you feel that you want to have the new 10-year valid passport immediately for whatever reason,” he adeed.
The DFA noted that it undertook extensive consultations with Congress and other stakeholders before the IRR was issued.