Marcos signs new Passport Act

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed a new law governing the issuance of passports in the country, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Saturday.

In a statement, the PCO said Marcos signed Republic Act No. 11983, or the “New Philippine Passport Act,” on March 11.

The new measure effectively repealed RA No. 8239 or the Passport Act of 1996.

Under the “New Philippine Passport Act,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was mandated to establish and maintain an online application portal and Electronic One-Stop Shop readily accessible on its official website.

The law also authorizes the DFA to provide offsite and mobile passport services in areas outside of the consular offices and foreign service posts (FSPs).

The law, moreover, mandated the Foreign Affairs Department to arrange accommodations for the applications of regular passports by senior citizens, PWDs, pregnant women, minors aged seven years old and below, solo parents, OFWs, and individuals with emergency and exceptional cases.

Penalties

The new law on passports provides penalties in the application, use, and handling of new passports.

The RA No. 8239 states that “any person or entity without legal authority who confiscates, retains, or withholds any passport issued by the DFA shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than 12 years and shall pay a fine of not less than P1 million, but not more than P2 million.”

Forgers of Philippine passports will face six to 15 years of imprisonment and a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P250,000.

For offenses relating to improper passport use and other travel documents, offenders will face six to 15 years of imprisonment and a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P250,000.

On offenses relating to passport issuances, violators will face six years imprisonment but not more than 12 years incarceration and a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P250,000.

The law also outlined penalties for unfair and discriminatory practices in passport issuance, from suspension and dismissal from services, as well as fine of up to P250,000 and six-year imprisonment at the maximum, according to the PCO.

Regular passports are issued to Filipino citizens who are not eligible or entitled to diplomatic or official passports, including government officials or employees going abroad for pleasure or other personal reasons, the Palace said.

Government officials and employees and members of their families may, during their incumbency in office, hold two passports simultaneously.

The PCO said the new passport law takes effect 15 days following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. — DVM, GMA Integrated News