Sen. Bong Go is urging the government to suspend or cancel the proposed increase in passport fees from ₱950 to ₱1,500.
Go made the appeal during a Senate hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Migrant Workers. He said the increase would add to the financial burden of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who work abroad to support their families and contribute to the economy.
The senator said the government should consider the sacrifices of migrant workers before imposing additional costs on them.
Go also compared the proposed fee increase with the previous decision to extend passport validity to 10 years. He said the government should instead consider measures that could benefit migrants, including reducing passport-related costs.
He urged the government to remember the contributions and sacrifices of Filipinos working overseas and to consider their daily expenses.
The proposed passport fee would increase the regular processing cost by ₱550, from the current ₱950 to ₱1,500.
Go is calling for the proposed increase to be suspended or canceled, saying the government should avoid adding unnecessary financial burdens to OFWs and their families.
The proposed ₱1,500 passport fee has not yet been implemented.
