Bicol residents back extension of passport validity

Residents in Bicol are supporting the move of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend the validity of Philippine passports from the current five years to 10 years.

State-run Philippines News Agency quoted Melanie Ibardaloza, 29, of Catanduanes, as saying this would give her peace of mind if she has to work abroad.

Ibardaloza, a nurse, has worked at the Sharourah General Hospital in Najran, Saudi Arabia for the last five years. She renewed her passport last June when she arrived home for a vacation.

“(I am) confident I could travel and work abroad for it (passport) will not expire even if I am out of the country.” she said.

Meanwhile, Sharahden Destura, 27, an employee of the Legazpi City government, also felt “happy and excited” about the move as she plans to go to Guam.

Duterte had mentioned extending the validity of passports in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 25.