Filipinos were encouraged to check their passports after reports surfaced that the important travel document may be susceptible to mold.
Segment host Kim Atienza, also known as “Kuya Kim,” reported on Wednesday, November 26, the case of a tourist whose passport had accumulated mold.
Wandizza Hermosura said she was supposed to travel to Thailand when she discovered that her travel document had mold on it.
“Pinahanap ko po sa kapatid ko ‘yung passport ko. Nakita po namin sa maleta. Pagka-open po, biglang nakita niya po malamig tapos and daming amag,” she told GMA’s “24 Oras.”
“Siguro nanggaling po ang amag kasi na-stock po siya sa maleta tapos nasa isang storage room lang siya. So ‘yung humid siguro ay hindi siya naging okay,” Hermosura added.
She said she tried wiping off the mold with a clean cloth, but some of it, which she described as “black”—could not be removed.
Kuya Kim’s report prompted some Filipinos to inspect their passports for mold.
“Guys, i-check niyo na mga passport niyo. Para ma-renew agad pag nagka-molds. Grabe, buti na lang napanood ko si Kuya Kim sa GMA News. Buti wala pakong interview sa visa ko, kaso fully booked naman halos lahat ng DFA ngayong December,” an online user said.
“Nilagay ko ‘to sa folder ko na may mga important [documents] kaya ‘di ko ine-expect na mag mo-molds,” the Threads user added, sharing pictures of her passport.
“Buti nalang dumaan ‘to sa FYP [for your page] ko,” another Threads user wrote with a loudly crying emoji.
“Napatakbo ako para i-check ‘yung passport ko, and lo and behold, meron na ngang kaunting mold,” the online user added.
Other online users also shared similar experiences in the replies.
“Kakahuha ko lang. Tinago ko, ayun, nag-molds, huhu,” a Filipino commented.
“Same ng nangyari with mine,” another said.
“Nag-check din ako nung amin. Nagtataka lang ako, nag-mold ‘yung Philippine passport pero yung Chilean passport, hindi. Eh same lang silang lalagyan,” a different Pinoy commented.
According to lawyer Laser Blitz Sumagaysay, acting passport director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, a passport with mold can be considered “mutilated or damaged.”
He explained that a damaged travel document is one whose changed physical appearance or condition has changed due to regular wear and tear, negligence, defacement, or other circumstances.
“Sa case ng mold damage, pwede po ‘to makonsidera as mutilated o damaged,” Sumagaysay said in the report.
“Kung gusto po natin na hindi maantala ang ating biyahe, mas maigi na po na i-renew na lang ang ating passport,” he added.
Sumagaysay suggested that Filipinos store their passports in ziplock bags to protect them from mold.
“Sa mga travels o biyahe, linalagay ko lang po ‘yung passport sa isang ziplock at ‘yung iba po, may pwede natin po lagyan ng silica gel. Parang hindi po mag-accumulate ‘yung moisture,” he said.
A look at social media shows some Filipinos placing packs of silica gel, usually included in shoe boxes, inside their passport cases.
A passport is a travel document issued by a country’s government to its citizens that verifies the holder’s identity and nationality for international travel.
It can also be used to confirm one’s identity for purposes such as opening bank accounts, among other uses.
