BIBIGYAN ng 50 porsyentong diskuwento sa passport fee ang mga senior citizen at persons with disability (PWD).

Ito ay kapag naging batas ang panukalang New Philippine Passport Act na inaprubahan ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa sa botong 252 pabor.

Papalitan ng panukala ang Philippine Passport Act of 1996 o Republic Act No. 8239 upang mas makatugon ang bansa sa mga naging pagbabago sa teknolohiya at para makasunod sa mga polisiyang napagkasunduang ipatupad ng international community.

“The people’s constitutional right to travel is inviolable. Accordingly, the government has the duty to issue passports or any travel document to any citizen of the Philippines or individual who complies with the requirements of this Act, using, as much as practicable, the latest tamper-proof, personalization, and data management technology,” sabi sa HB 6510.

“The right to travel may be impaired only when national security, public safety, or public health so requires. To enhance and protect the unimpaired exercise of this right, only minimum requirements for the application and issuance of passports and other travel documents shall be prescribed,” sabi pa rito.

Bukod sa mga international agreement, isinaalang-alang umano sa panukala ang mga batas gaya ng Philippine adoption laws, the Citizenship and Reacquisition Act of 2003, Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, An Act Extending the Validity of Philippine Passports, at Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Inaatasan din ng panukala ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) na bumuo ng isang sistema upang hindi na kailanganin ng personal appearance ng mga senior citizen na nagre-renew ng kanilang pasaporte.

Ang mga indibidwal na nasa likod ng krimen na may kaugnayan sa pasaporte gaya ng pamemeke nito ay papatawan ng hanggang anim na taong kulong at hanggang P2 milyong multa.