P950 passport wants to be P1,500
LAW SAYS THEY CAN RAISE THE FEE ONLY EVERY THREE YEARS. RAISE IT NOW, THEN THE FANCY NEW PASSPORT COMES IN 2028, ‘CAN WE RAISE IT?’ ‘WE JUST DID.’
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LAW SAYS THEY CAN RAISE THE FEE ONLY EVERY THREE YEARS. RAISE IT NOW, THEN THE FANCY NEW PASSPORT COMES IN 2028, ‘CAN WE RAISE IT?’ ‘WE JUST DID.’
The government finally found a way to make the Philippine passport “stronger.” Raise the price. From P950 to P1,500.
Seniors and OFWs get a discount. Only P1,200. “Thank you for your sacrifice. Cash or card?”
Nothing final yet.
APO, the printer, says it needs more money lest operations eventually stop. Stop. As in no printer, no passport. Very simple.
Who owns the printer? China? A giant foreign contractor holding us hostage? No. Government. Government is being held hostage by government.
APO is government-owned and controlled. Government owns the printer, issues the passport; the passport itself is government property. Government owns the whole damn thing, except the privilege to pay for it.
But DFA says not now. Maybe 2028. What’s happening in 2028? New passport! New design, better security, new chip, maybe a gold leaf on it, make it smell like sampaguita.
Beautiful eagle. Beautiful flag. Very dignified. Does Europe come with it?
No. They added more pages because, what, we need somewhere to put all the visas?
Law says they can raise the fee only every three years. Raise it now, then the fancy new passport comes in 2028, “Can we raise it?” “We just did.”
Everything in this country is allowed to become more expensive except labor. Food goes up, fare, electricity go up, government fees. Your salary? See you in court.
If you’re going to charge P1,500, at least speed it up. Government IDs are unbelievable. You give them your picture at 25: young guy, beautiful skin, full head of hair. ID arrives when you’re 31.
Guy looks at the ID, looks at you, looks at the ID again: “Sir, this doesn’t look like you.”
I know! You took six years! There’s a birthday on that thing. Very useful information. I celebrated six of them waiting for you to print the damn thing.
Government has one solution for every time governing gets expensive: you pay.
Anyway, who is this passport for? Me? I already know I’m Filipino.
I don’t wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and go, “My God. Belgian?”
Government knows I’m Filipino too. They have my PSA. My fingerprints. We all agree I’m Filipino. Apparently we need P1,500 to make it official.
The passport is really government talking to another government. Japan: “Who’s this guy?” Philippines: “Ours.” That’s it. Somehow that conversation cost me P1,500.
“Well, everything costs money.” Well, roads cost money. Does government send somebody running after you: “Sir! You used 11 meters! P38?”
Elections cost money, too. “President?” “Yes, please.”
“That’ll be P12.” “Can I vote for senator?” “Separate charge, sir. Would you like a receipt?” “No, I want democracy!”
What kind of country would this be?
Here’s a proposal. First passport? Free. Lose it? Pay. Leave it in a taxi? Pay up. Wash it with your jockeys? Pay double. That’s on me.
But the first one? Give it at 18. Happy birthday! You’re an adult. You can vote. You can work. Here’s your passport. Try not to disgrace the republic.
Because sometimes the guy getting that first passport isn’t going to Paris for the Louvre. He needs a job, money. So off he goes to Saudi to make money. But first he needs money so he can pay government for the document that lets him leave the country to make money.
Then he gets there. Works like hell. Misses Christmas. Sends dollars home. Now everybody gets emotional.
“Our OFWs!” “Bagong bayani!”
But before the guy could become a hero: “P1,200 please.” Discounted.
