Extending the Validity of Philippine Passports

August 2, 2017 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10928 AN ACTEXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF PHILIPPINE PASSPORTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE PASSPORTACT OF 1996," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES SECTION 1. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8239, otherwise known as the "Philippine Passport Act of 1996," is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 10. Validity. Regular passports issued under this Act shall be valid for a period of ten (10) years: Provided , however , That for individuals under eighteen (18) years of age, only a passport with five (5)-year validity shall be issued: Provided, further , That the issuing authority may limit the period of validity to less than ten (10) years, whenever in the national economic interest or political stability of the country such restriction is necessary; Provided , finally , That a new passport may be issued to replace one which validity has expired, the old passport being returned to the holder after cancellation." SECTION 2. Implementing Authority. The Department of Foreign Affairs shall issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations and adopt best practices to ensure that the provisions of this Act are implemented in convergence with necessary reforms to make the passport processing system seamless, convenient and pro-people, and the production and security of passports at par with technological advances and world standards. SECTION 3. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or parts not affected shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. aDSIHc SECTION 5. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation. Approved: August 2, 2017. Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 113, No. 33, p. 5961 on August 14, 2017.