PCO to launch new, high-security passport

Date Posted: 08/17/2016

Every Filipino who wishes to go overseas and applies for a passport will receive the “all new, high-security passport” beginning Monday, Aug. 15.

The new passports will feature impressive design promoting the regions of the country.

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 angles.

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.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) secretary Martin Andanar assured that the new passports would be readily available. “The new APO printing system increases the production speed of the new passports to 35%.”

Andanar, whose office supervises the APO Production Unit Inc., further said, “This means the new passport printing system results to delivery of passports from press to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in an average of five days compared to 7-14 days previously.”

“It is the objective of the PCO to keep on improving our printing processes so we can even hasten the delivery from our APO Lima Plant in Batangas to DFA within four days by 2017,” Andanar explained.

Published Date: August 14, 2016
Source: Manila Bulletin