MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go voiced his strong opposition on Saturday against a plan to increase the fee for issuing Philippine passports from ₱950 to ₱1,500, arguing that the price hike would place an additional financial strain on citizens already dealing with inflation and economic challenges.
Go pointed out that the proposed price adjustment comes at an unfavorable time, particularly as Middle East tensions push petroleum costs higher, which threatens to drive up the prices of essential goods and basic services.
“Huwag na sanang dagdagan pa ang bigat na pasan ng ating mga mamamayan, lalo na ang mga OFWs na araw-araw nagsasakripisyo para sa kanilang pamilya at sa ating bayan,” he said, pointing to the plight of overseas Filipino workers.
“Masakit na ang mapalayo sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay—huwag naman sanang suklian ang kanilang sakripisyo ng halos dobleng bayarin sa kanilang passport,” he added.
The lawmaker also questioned why fees are being reconsidered after former President Rodrigo Duterte extended passport validity from five to ten years—a measure explicitly designed to save citizens both money and frequent trips to processing centers.
“Tapos ngayon, dodoblehin ang gastos sa passport fee? Kung talagang kailangan, dapat pag-aralan kung maaari itong i-subsidize ng gobyerno kaysa mapunta sa korapsyon,” Go stressed.
The price adjustment was originally put forward by the state contractor responsible for printing the travel documents, APO Production Unit.
While the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) acknowledged the contractor’s reasoning—noting that passport fees have stayed unchanged for over a decade despite the doubled validity period—the agency requested APO to put the proposed rate hike on hold ahead of rolling out an upgraded, next-generation passport system slated for mid-2028.