By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
Reporter

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte has made good on some his promises during his first State of the Nation Address by signing separate laws extending the validity of passports and driver’s licenses as well as well as the establishment of a free Internet access program in public places.

Mr. Duterte signed into law Republic Acts (RA) No. 10928, 10929, and 10930 — copies of which were released by Malacañang on Wednesday.

RA 10928, “An Act Extending the Validity of Philippine Passports, amending for the purpose Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8239, otherwise known as the ‘Philippine Passport Act of 1996,’ and for other purposes,” was signed by Mr. Duterte on Aug. 2.

Under the new law, passports will now have a 10-year validity for adults aged 18 years old and above from the current five years. Individuals under 18 years old will be issued passports with a five-year validity.

RA 10928 also allowed the issuing authority to limit the validity of passports to less than 10 years if “the national economic interest or political stability of the country” necessitates such restriction.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs shall issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations and adopt best practices to ensure that the provisions of this Act are implemented in convergence with necessary reforms to make the passport processing system seamless…,” it added.

In a statement issued yesterday, former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, one of the authors of the measure, welcomed the signing.

“With this new law, I am hopeful that Filipinos’ unimpaired exercise of their constitutional right to travel will be enhanced,” Ms. Arroyo said.

Also on Aug. 2, the President approved RA 10929, or “An Act Establishing the Free Internet Access Program in Public Places in the Country and Appropriating Funds therefor.”

Under the newly signed law, no fees will be collected from users to connect to the Internet program, which covers national and local governments, education institutions, ports, and transport terminals, among others.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which will act as the lead implementing agency, may partner with the private sector to “promote an efficient and cost-effective delivery” of the free Internet access for public spaces.

RA 10929, however, prohibits any “unfair methods of competition and exclusivity arrangements in favor of a single telecommunications entity” as well as access to pornography and collection of private data of users of the program.

“The State hereby recognizes the vital role of information and communications technology in nation building,” it said.

Mr. Duterte also inked RA 10930, “An Act Rationalizing and Strengthening the Policy Regarding Driver’s License by Extending the Validity Period of Driver’s Licenses.”

The new law extends the validity of drivers’ licenses to five years, including the grant to responsible drivers without any violation a 10-year validity.

On the other hand, a license could be revoked for four years in cases wherein the driver is involved in the death or physical injuries resulting in the loss of any part of a victim’s body, insanity, imbecility, impotence or blindness or incapacity to work.

It also imposed a fine amounting to P20,000 for willful misrepresentation, connivance with an officer, falsification of documents and cheating during examinations for applicants, who shall be prohibited from applying for a period of two years.

“It shall be the policy of the State to establish a system that promotes the ease of access to government services and efficient transportation regulation favorable to the people,” RA 10930 said.

Including the three acts that he approved yesterday, Mr. Duterte has so far signed eight measures into law.

The other laws that he inked were the postponement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the 2017 national budget, inclusion of casinos in the coverage of Republic Act No. 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as well as renewal of GMA Network, Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. franchises.

Other measures pending Mr. Duterte’s signature are the amendments to the Revised Penal Code and the Free Higher Education for all Act, which the President said will he will “decide before the deadline.”

Under the Constitution, every bill passed by Congress shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President for approval or veto.

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