Free wifi, 10-yr passport validity signed

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure extending the validity of Philippine passports from five years to 10 years.

Republic Act (RA) 10928, which was signed by Duterte on August 2, Wednesday, amends Section 10 of RA 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 which declared five-year validity period of passports.

The newly-signed law provides that regular passports shall be valid for a period of 10 years.

However, a passport with five-year validity will be issued to individuals under 18 years of age.

The law also states that the issuing authority may limit the period of validity to less than 10 years “whenever in the national economic or political stability of the country, such restriction is necessary.”

A new passport may also be issued to replace one which validity has expired.

Under RA 10928, the Department of Foreign Affairs is designated to issue implementing rules

and regulations that will make the passport processing system “seamless, convenient and pro-people.”

The law is a consolidation of Senate Bill 1365 and House Bill 4767 approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives on May 17 and May 16, respectively.

Free public wifi

Meanwhile, Du te rte has also signed into law a measure establishing free Internet access program in public places.

Under RA 10929 titled“Free InternetAccess in Public Places Act ,” Du te rte explained that the establishment of free public Wi-FI would “promote knowledge-building among citizens and enable them to participate in the evolving information and communication age.”

The public can now access free Internet connection in “national and local government offices; public basic education institutions; state universities and colleges, and technology institutions; public hospitals, health centers, and rural health units; public parks, plazas, libraries and barangay reading centers; public airports and seaports; and public transport terminals.”

The law provides that no fees shall be collected from users to connect to the public Internet access points.

It also states that the limited Internet access shall only be effective “when there is clear and present technical risk or breach that cannot be remedied through ordinary technical solutions.”

The law, however, forbids access to pornographic websites.

RA 10929 designates the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as the lead agency to oversee the effective and efficient implementation of the law. SunStar Philippines