Senate passes 10-year passport validity bill

THE passage of a bill making Philippine passports valid for 10 years will give much relief to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), according to Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara.

“This measure will certainly give comfort to our OFWs. Often, they have to file a leave from work for them to be able to travel back and forth to the nearest Philippine Embassy or consular office to get their passports renewed,” Angara said in a statement on Monday after senators approved Senate Bill (SB) 1365, or the New Philippine Passport Act, on third and final reading, extending passports’ validity to 10 years.