New PH passports to be released starting today

Filipinos who want to travel overseas and are applying for their passports will be the first recipients of the “all-new high-security passport” released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) beginning today, August 15.

 

 A NEW LOOK. The new passports will not only have a revamped look but also have security features that will make them virtually fraud-proof. Photos grabbed from PCO Facebook page.

 

Dubbed by a travel site as the world’s most secure passport, the new look includes designs that showcase the country’s different regions. Intaglio printing is used for these new passports, similar to what they use when printing money.

Other security features include using optical variable illusion ink (different colors shown from different angles), upgraded security on the microchip, and using invisible UV fluorescent ink and thread. An elaborate design also appears only when subjected to UV light.

PCO Secretary Martin Andanar assured the public that the new passports would be readily available. “The new APO printing system increases the production speed of new passports to 35%.”

“It is the objective of the PCO to keep on improving our printing processes so we can even hasten the delivery from our APO Lima Plant in Batangas to DFA within 4 days by 2017,” Andanar added.

This is a welcome development that’s in line with the recent filing of a bill by Sen. Ralph Recto that seeks to extend passport validity to 10 years from the current five.

 

Source: Manila Bulletin, PCO Facebook page