Announcements
Cabinet Members of President Benigno Aquino III
- Executive SecretaryPaquito N. Ochoa, Jr.
- Foreign Affairs (DFA)Alberto G. Romulo
- Finance (DOF)Cesar V. Purisima
- Justice (DOJ)Leila L. de Lima
- Defense (DND)Voltaire T. Gazmin
- Education (DepEd)Armin A. Luistro
- NEDACayetano W. Paderanga, Jr.
- Agriculture (DA)Proceso V. Alcala
- Environment (DENR)Ramon J. Paje
- Transportation & Communications (DOTC)Jose P. de Jesus
- Labor and Employment (DOLE)Rosalinda D. Baldoz
- Health (DOH)Dr. Enrique T. Ona
- Tourism (DOT)Alberto A. Lim
- Trade and Industry (DTI)Gregory L. Domingo
- Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)Corazon J. Soliman
- Energy (DOE)Jose Rene D. Almendras
- Public Works & Highways (DPWH)Rogelio L. Singson
- Science and Technology (DOST)Dr. Mario G. Montejo
- Agrarian Reform (DAR)Virgilio R. De Los Reyes
- Interior & Local Government (DILG)Jesse M. Robredo
- Budget and Management (DBM)Florencio B. Abad
- Peace ProcessTeresita QuintosDeles
- Presidential Management StaffJulia R. Abad
- SpokespersonEdwin F. Lacierda
- Presidential Legal CounselEduardo V. De Mesa
- Commission on Higher EducationPatricia B. Licuanan
- Bureau of Internal RevenueKim S. JacintoHenares
- Armed Forces of the PhilippinesMaj. Gen. Ricardo A. David Jr.
- Housing & Urban DevelopmentVP Jejomar Binay
Other Officials
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