Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8239)
Republic Act No. 8239 is officially called the "Philippine Passport Act of 1996."
The Act emphasizes the people's constitutional right to travel, which is inviolable.
The right to travel may be impaired only when national security, public safety, or public health requires it.
Requirements include a duly accomplished application form, photographs, a birth certificate or acceptable substitutes such as baptismal certificates, supporting affidavits where applicable, and additional documents for married women, naturalized citizens, minors, or adopted persons as specified in Section 5 of the Act.
The Act recognizes Diplomatic Passports, Official Passports, and Regular Passports with specific eligibility criteria for each type.
Applications can be denied by order of the court for pending criminal cases, requests by a natural or legal guardian if the applicant is a minor, violations of the Act's provisions, or other disqualifications under existing laws.
Regular passports are valid for five (5) years unless the issuing authority limits the validity to less than five years for national economic or political reasons.
Penalties include fines ranging from PHP 15,000 to PHP 60,000 and imprisonment from eighteen (18) months to six (6) years, with disqualification from public office for certain officials.
The loss or destruction must be reported immediately to the Department of Foreign Affairs or the nearest Philippine Post, accompanied by an affidavit detailing the circumstances, and copies of the affidavit must be furnished to the National Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Immigration.