Republic Act No. 10928

Be it enacted by the Senate House of Representatives of Philippines in Congress assembled:

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 that 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 covergence 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 of provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the order 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laws, ordinances, rules regulations, other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

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,

(Sgd.) PANTALEON ALVAREZ Speaker of the House of Representatives	(Sgd.) AQUILINO "KOKO" PIMENTEL, III President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1365 and House Bill No. 4767 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on May 17, 2017 and May 16, 2017, respectively.

(Sgd.) CESAR STRAIT PAREJA Secretary GeneralHouse of Representatives	(Sgd.) LUTGARDO B. BARBO Secretary of the Senate

Approved: August 2, 2017

(Sgd.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE President of the Philippines