Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
THE Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading Senate Bill (SB) 2001 that will allow migrant workers and senior citizens to renew their passports virtually.
The senators, voting 20-0-0, passed SB 2001 providing for a new passport law by repealing Republic Act (RA) 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.
It seeks a new generation of passports that is at par with international standards, streamlining the passport application process while maintaining the integrity and security of the country’s passports.
The bill allows the non-appearance of senior citizens and Filipino migrant workers abroad at consular offices when renewing their passports and the granting of travel documents to foreign refugees.
“The [proposed] New Philippine Passport Law will be the framework upon which we will build a future reiteration of the Philippine passport and contactless technologies,” Sen. Maria Josefa Imelda “Imee” Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said.
SB 2001 also seeks the establishment of an Electronic One-Stop Shop on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) website to facilitate convenience of application and ease in gathering and submission of requirements.
The bill will institutionalize the offsite and mobile passport services being provided by the DFA.
Filipinos who lose their passports during overseas travel will be issued emergency passports which should be valid for one year.
The bill also proposes the creation of a “Passport Revolving Fund,” sourced from the service fees charged from passport processing and issuance which require special consideration or issuance beyond regular office hours. Congress shall review the disbursement and use of the fund annually.
SB 2001 establishes a passport database, which, aside from the biographic, biometric, and demographic data of passport holders, shall also contain a record of denials, cancellations, and lost passports.
It enumerates prohibitions and penalties relating to forgery, withholding and improper use of passports and other travel documents, as well as the unfair and discriminatory practices committed by DFA officers.
SB 2001 will provide for a more simplified passport application process, improvements in the general public’s access at the same time maintaining the security and integrity of the Philippine passport.
The measure also empowers the DFA “to modify the present requirement of personal appearance for first time passport applicants whenever technologies are available.”
It also requires the creation of a “watchlist database” containing information on persons whose passport applications have been denied or whose passports have been cancelled as well as those who tried to violate the passport law. — Bernadette E. Tamayo
*****
Credit belongs to: www.manilatimes.net
