PASAY CITY, Philippines — Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito has pledged to secure government subsidies to maintain affordable passport issuance fees for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and everyday citizens.
Ejercito, who serves as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, made the commitment during a Wednesday, September 30 budget hearing regarding the proposed 2027 allocation for the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). The issue arose after discussions with representatives from the APO Production Unit, the state agency tasked with printing Philippine passports.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) previously disclosed that APO suggested raising passport processing rates from ₱900 to ₱1,500 to keep pace with escalating production expenses.
However, APO officials clarified during the proceedings that they are requesting a state subsidy within the DFA budget to cover expenses rather than passing a price hike onto applicants.
The agency noted that without financial assistance, operational delays could occur because production costs, raw materials, and logistics have steadily climbed since fees were last fixed in 2016.
Ejercito affirmed that despite budgetary constraints facing the national government this year, he will push to incorporate the necessary subsidy into the final budget draft.
“We will try to subsidize,” Ejercito stated, emphasizing that access to passports must remain guaranteed for every Filipino.
The lawmaker warned that any hike in passport costs would disproportionately burden low-income citizens and migrant workers reliant on travel documentation.
“Ayaw nating pahirapan ang ating mga OFWs. Pero mas ayaw din nating mawalan tayo ng paspport,” he said.