Section 1
SECTION 1. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8239, otherwise known as the "Philippine Passport Act of 1996", is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 10. Validity.- Regular passports issued under this Act shall be valid for a period of ten (10) years: Provided, however, That for individuals under eighteen (18) years of age, only a passport with five (5)-year validity shall be issued: Provided, further, That the issuing authority may limit the period of validity to less than ten (10) years, whenever in the national economic interest or political stability of the country such restriction is necessary: Provided, finally, That a new passport may be issued to replace one which validity has expired, the old passport being returned to the holder after cancellation."