DFA urged to extend passport validity of seafarers, OFWs by 2 years

Marino party-list Representatives Sandro Gonzales and Macnell Lusotan have filed a resolution urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to extend the passport validity of Filipino seafarers and land-based overseas Filipino workers by two years. In filing House Resolution 2367, the lawmakers pointed out that the delay in processing of passports might result in lost employment opportunities and the replacement of Filipino seafarers and land-based OFWs by other nationalities whose governments can immediately issue their workers' deployment documents. "Unfortunate as it may sound, there is an urgent need on the part of the government to support the deployment of OFWs through the extension of the validity of their passports to give them opportunity to be gainfully employed abroad while employment opportunities in the country remain scarce," the lawmakers said. Gonzales and Lusotan urged the DFA to extend the passport validity of OFWs due for deployment within 120 days or are currently in foreign workplaces by two years upon approval of this measure. The lawmakers said on the part of seafarers, it has been an industry practice to hold a passport with at least 18 months of validity prior to deployment. The DFA earlier admitted backlogs in processing passport applications and renewals because of limited appointment slots offered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, the pandemic forced border and travel restrictions, making it difficult for seafarers and OFWs to go to consular offices to renew and process their passports. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News

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