MANILA — Philippine passport fees may rise soon.
At the hearing for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)'s 2027 budget, Senate Finance Committee Chair JV Ejercito said APO Production, the government's passport printer, has asked to be allowed to increase passport prices so it can sustain production.
But Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said they want to delay any increase until mid-2028 to coincide with the release of the next generation of passports.
"They are saying that [with] the failure to adjust the price, they might be forced to cease their operation and baka mamaya wala tayong passport by next year. So, siyempre, this will be a big problem," Ejercito said. "I think P950 ngayon, yung passport. Tapos ang nai-propose nila is medyo malaki rin kasi, P1500. So that will not sit well with OFWs."
"Pero meron daw silang discount for seniors and others and OFWs na P1,200 lang," the senator noted.
Lazaro explained the APO letter is a "consequence of certain negotiations."
"Sampung taon naman kasi ho na 'di nag- increase," she said.
Lazaro explained that the frequency of passport price increases is regulated under the Philippine Passport Act, which states that passport prices can't be increased within three years.
"Naisip ho namin, kung mag-i-increase kami, let's say sa January, sa nire-request nila, eh paano ho yung next generation (passports) ? Eh iba na ho yung papel...yun lang ang pakiusap namin sa kanila. 'Til mid-2028."
Ejercito asked the DFA to inform them if there is a need to subsidize production to ensure the continued delivery of passports.
The senator also asked the DFA about reports that some passports cannot be read at the electronic gates of airports.
DFA Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Anne Jalando-on Louis called these reports "isolated," but said the agency has convened a technical working group to address these.
"On the part of the DFA and in partnership with our third-party service provider, APO, we have already submitted all the technical requirements to the International Civil Aviation Authority, yung technical details ng ating passport so that it can be read," Jalando-on Louis said.
Jalando-on Louis also admitted there was no coordination with the Bureau of Immigration, which runs the e-gates.
"So siguro itong reader na 'to, hindi po yung passport namin talaga ang may problema. It's the reader," she said.