Senate approves bill extending passport validity

Voting 18-0-0, the Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill extending the validity of Philippine passports from five to 10 years, as the chamber also started deliberating on a proposal for a five-year drivers’ license.

Senate Bill No. 1365, or the Philippine Passport Act, was authored by Senators Richard Gordon, Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Grace Poe, Alan Peter Cayetano and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.

Villar, vice chairperson of the Senate committee on foreign relations and sponsor of the bill, said the measure would make travel abroad easier, especially for overseas Filipino workers.

Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe sponsored on the floor Senate Bill No. 1499, which seeks to amend Section 23 of Republic Act No. 4136, as amended by Batas Pambansa No. 398 and Executive Order No. 1011, or the Land and Transportation and Traffic Code. —CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO