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Press Release

Cabinet Members of President Benigno Aquino III

  1. Executive SecretaryPaquito N. Ochoa, Jr.
  2. Foreign Affairs (DFA)Alberto G. Romulo
  3. Finance (DOF)Cesar V. Purisima
  4. Justice (DOJ)Leila L. de Lima
  5. Defense (DND)Voltaire T. Gazmin
  6. Education (DepEd)Armin A. Luistro
  7. NEDACayetano W. Paderanga, Jr.
  8. Agriculture (DA)Proceso V. Alcala
  9. Environment (DENR)Ramon J. Paje
  10. Transportation & Communications (DOTC)Jose P. de Jesus
  11. Labor and Employment (DOLE)Rosalinda D. Baldoz
  12. Health (DOH)Dr. Enrique T. Ona
  13. Tourism (DOT)Alberto A. Lim
  14. Trade and Industry (DTI)Gregory L. Domingo
  15. Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)Corazon J. Soliman
  16. Energy (DOE)Jose Rene D. Almendras
  17. Public Works & Highways (DPWH)Rogelio L. Singson
  18. Science and Technology (DOST)Dr. Mario G. Montejo
  19. Agrarian Reform (DAR)Virgilio R. De Los Reyes
  20. Interior & Local Government (DILG)Jesse M. Robredo
  21. Budget and Management (DBM)Florencio B. Abad

    22. Other Officials

  22. Peace ProcessTeresita QuintosDeles
  23. Presidential Management StaffJulia R. Abad
  24. SpokespersonEdwin F. Lacierda
  25. Presidential Legal CounselEduardo V. De Mesa
  26. Commission on Higher EducationPatricia B. Licuanan
  27. Bureau of Internal RevenueKim S. JacintoHenares
  28. Armed Forces of the PhilippinesMaj. Gen. Ricardo A. David Jr.
  29. Housing & Urban DevelopmentVP Jejomar Binay

07:39 PM

Philippine Embassy launches ICAO-Compliant Passports

Starting 1 August 2010, the Embassy of the Philippines in Ottawa will issue the state-of-the art ePassport to first-time passport applicants and those renewing their Philippine passports.

Requirements for new and renewal of passports remain the same, except that applicants no longer need to submit photographs. Personal appearance is required for purposes of capturing the personal data of the applicant using biometrics.

The ePassport contains an integrated circuit chip storing essential personal data of the passport holder.  Aside from the information found on the data page, the ePassport stores the biometrics of the passport holder, consisting of his fingerprints, digital signature and photograph, as well as a unique identification number. A host of other security features renders the passport virtually tamper-proof.

The new Philippine ePassport meets the latest international standards for passports.  It is designed to allow for seamless immigration checks and faster airline travel arrangements, and prevents identity theft and tampering of personal data.

Turnaround time (from submission of application to passport releasing) remains at six (6) weeks inasmuch as all ePassport applications are forwarded to the highly secure ePassport printing center at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Security Plant Complex in the Philippines. 

Owing to the advanced technology used in the new ePassport, the passport fee is now CAD $69.00. Data culled by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila show that Philippine ePassports are priced lower than many ePassport-issuing countries.

With this development, the Embassy will stop issuing the Machine Readable Passport (MRP).  However, all MRPs and the non-machine readable passports (with green cover) already issued by the Embassy, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Regional Consular Offices and all Philippine Foreign Service Posts will remain valid until the date of their expiry.

Philippine passport holders are reminded to renew their passports at least six (6) months before expiry.

For further information on passport requirements and other passport-related matters, please contact the Embassy of the Philippines at telephone (613) 2331121 or at email .

08:01 AM