Philippines announces new passport renewal rule

Announcement made following a passport data breach.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has recently announced a change in the requirements needed for the renewal of passports. The announcement was made following a data breach which occurred on Saturday, January 12.
According to the Filipino Times, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr revealed that a passport data breach was detected after an overseas contractor did not turn over the information to the government. The contractor had got upset when their services were terminated, Locsin pointed out. "It won't happen again. Passports pose national security issues and cannot be kept back by private entities. Data belongs to the state," he tweeted.
In the wake of the data breach, Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato requested applicants to bring an original copy of their birth certificates - a move that put off many Filipino expats.
On Tuesday, the DFA clarified the list of requirements - in an official announcement.

Under Department Order 03-2019, birth certificates are no longer required for any passport renewal, overturning Cato's earlier announcement. However, birth certificates will still be required in the following situations:
- First-time passport applications
- Renewal for lost and damaged passports
- Requiring changes in the passport entries
- Old (brown or green) passports with no complete middle name.
- Applicants included in the DFA's watchlist

• Philippines