Bill extending passport validity a step closer to approval

A bill seeking to extend the validity of Philippine passports to 10 years is one step closer to the President’s signature.

This after the House of Representatives during plenary on Tuesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report of the bill seeking to extend the validity of the Philippine passports to 10 years for adults and five years for minors.

The lower House ratified its version of the bill after the Senate on Monday approved on third reading its version of the bill.

READ: Bill extending validity of passport to 10 years OK’d in Senate

A ratification of the bill follows the bicameral conference where both Houses of Congress consolidate its versions of the bill. After ratification, the consolidated bill goes to the President for signature and approval.

The lower House earlier approved on third reading House Bill 4767 extending the validity of the Philippine passports amending for this purpose Republic Act 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act.

READ: House panel to approve 10-year passport validity bill soon 

The bill seeks to prolong the validity of passports to five years for minors aged zero to 17 years old; and to 10 years for passports of adults aged 18 years old and above.

The bills amends Section 10 of the passport law which states that “Regular passports issued under this Act shall be valid for a period of five (5) years for minors, ages zero to seventeen (0-17) years old and ten (10) years for adults eighteen (18) years old and above.”

The law refers to passport as “a document issued by the Philippine government to its citizens and requesting other governments to allow its citizens to pass safely and freely, and in case of need to give him/her all lawful aid and protection.”/ac

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