Senator Cynthia Villar filed a bill on Wednesday seeking the extension of the passport’s validity from 5 years to 10 years, according to a report by the Philippines News Agency.

In response to President Duterte’s call to improve the passport system in his recent State of the Nation Address, Senator Villar said: “This amendment is a measure that will enable us to comply with President Duterte’s directive to avoid long queues for government services.”

“Increasing the passports’ validity will, in effect, lessen the frequency and volume of applications for renewal and will contribute in reducing, if not eliminating, the long queues at Department of Foreign Affairs offices,” Villar noted in filing Senate Bill No. 324.

Senate Bill No. 324 aims to amend Republic Act No. 8239 of the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 which established the guidelines for the application and issuance of passports. The bill extends the validity of newly-issued regular passports for adults to 10 years, minors to 5 years.

Source: PNA