Senator Win Gatchalian said migrant workers and senior citizens will soon have the chance to renew their passports virtually as the Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 2001 or the New Philippine Passport Act.
One of President Marcos’ priority measures, the proposed legislation authorizes the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to allow senior citizens and migrant workers to renew their passports virtually, without having to go to any Consular Affairs office, said Gatchalian, the bill’s co-author.
“Binibigyan natin ng konsiderasyon ang kondisyon ng ating senior citizens at migrant workers upang hindi na sila maabala pa sa pagre-renew ng kanilang passport. Tungkulin ng gobyerno na gawing maayos ang mga dokumento na kinakailangan ng ating mga kababayan para sa kanilang maayos na paglalakbay,” he added.
Under the proposed measure, the DFA, working in collaboration with other relevant government agencies, is mandated to establish and maintain an online application portal and Electronic One-Stop Shop easily accessible on its official website to ensure convenience in the application process and the collection and submission of necessary requirements.
“Inaasahan nating mas magiging madali at magiging maayos ang pagkuha ng pasaporte ng ating mga kababayan na nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa at mga senior citizens kapag naisabatas na ang panukalang ito,” he noted, adding that the measure mandates the issuance of passports using the latest tamper-proof and data management technologies.
