By Brian Jules Campued
In a bid to improve accessibility and streamline application processes, especially benefitting senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers, and individuals with special needs or exceptional circumstances, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 11983.
Signed by Marcos on March 11, the “New Philippine Passport Act” directs the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to establish and maintain an online application portal and Electronic One-Stop Shop on its official website.
RA 11983 repealed the RA 8239, also known as the Passport Act of 1996.
The newly enacted law also authorizes DFA to provide offsite and mobile passport services in areas outside of the consular offices and foreign service posts, according to Malacañang.
“The DFA is also mandated by the new law 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,” it added.
Under the new passport law, 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.
Those who are found to have forged passports or improperly used passports and other travel documents will face six to 15 years of imprisonment and a fine of not less than P100,000, but not more than P250,000.
Violators will likewise face a prison term of six to 12 years and a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P250,000 for offenses relating to passport issuances.
RA 11983 also listed penalties for unfair and discriminatory practices in passport issuance, from including suspension and dismissal from service, as well as a fine of up to P250,000 and six-year imprisonment at the maximum.
Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Romualdez welcomed the signing of the law as it aims to develop a new generation of Philippine passports that meet international standards in addition to introducing key reforms to the passport application system.
“By making the application process more accessible and user-friendly, we are empowering every Filipino to obtain travel documents efficiently and with minimal hassle,” Romualdez said in a statement on Saturday. – av
