New 'high-security' passports available starting Monday

MANILA, Philippines — New passports with added security features would be available starting Monday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Sunday.

 

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the “all new high-security passport” would also contain designs that would promote the regions of the country.

 

“Added security features have been placed such as upgraded security feature of microchip to capture the personal data of the applicant, invisible UV fluorescent ink and thread, and elaborate design when subject to UV light,” Andanar said in a statement.

 

“Other changes include intaglio printing used for the printing of money and the printing of the coat of arms using optical variable illusion ink where color varies at different angle,” he added.

 

Among the designs featured in the new passports are the Philippine eagle and the green turtle.

 

Green turtle design in the new passport. Presidential Communications Office/Released

Andanar assured Filipinos who wish to go to other countries that the new passports would be readily available. He said APO Production Unit, an agency supervised by the PCO, was able to increase the production speed of passports to 35 percent.

 

“This means the new passport printing system results (in the) delivery of passports from press to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to an average of five days compared to seven to 14 days previously,” Andanar said. ?

 

He said his agency aims to further improve the passport printing process so that the delivery from the APO Lima Plant in Batangas to the DFA office can be hastened to four days by next year.