Senator Bong Go has opposed a proposal to increase the Philippine passport fee from ₱950 to ₱1,500, saying the higher cost would add to the financial burden of Filipinos amid rising prices and economic difficulties.
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap sa akin ang mungkahing itaas ang passport fee mula sa kasalukuyang ₱950 patungong ₱1,500,” Go said in a statement on September 19.
Go said the proposed increase was “untimely,“ citing the ongoing crisis brought about by tensions in the Middle East, which he said had contributed to successive increases in oil prices as well as the cost of basic goods and services.
He also pointed to the continued rise in unemployment, citing the latest available data for July 2026.
“Huwag na sanang dagdagan pa ang bigat na pasan ng ating mga mamamayan, lalo na ang mga OFWs na araw-araw nagsasakripisyo para sa kanilang pamilya at sa ating bayan,” Go said.
“Masakit na ang mapalayo sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay—huwag naman sanang suklian ang kanilang sakripisyo ng halos dobleng bayarin sa kanilang passport,” he added.
Go also pointed out that the passport validity period was extended from five years to 10 years during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte to reduce the expenses Filipinos incur from frequent passport renewals.
“Tandaan po natin: hinabaan ang validity ng passport mula limang taon tungo sa sampung taon noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte upang mabawasan ang gastusin ng mga Pilipino sa madalas na renewal. Tapos ngayon, dodoblehin ang gastos sa passport fee?” he said.
Go said the government should consider subsidizing the cost rather than passing the additional expense on to the public, if the increase is deemed necessary.
He also called for government funds to be used for the benefit of Filipinos, raising concerns about corruption.
“Ang kailangan ng mga Pilipino ngayon ay malasakit, hindi dagdag na pasakit. Serbisyo, hindi negosyo,” Go said.
During the Senate hearing on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) 2027 budget on September 18, Senate Finance Committee Chairman JV Ejercito said the APO Production Unit Inc., the government’s passport printer, had requested an increase in passport fees to sustain production.
The DFA, meanwhile, said it had asked APO Production Unit to defer the proposed fee increase until the rollout of the next generation of Philippine passports in 2028.
