You can find some more information on this new passport in the newspapers articles I highlight in this thread: http://filipinaroses.com/showthread.php?t=4247
Official informations (and forms to download) can be found here: http://www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/passport.htm
And yes the leadtime to get a passport increases due to the technology used in this new passport (it's the case also here in France since they add an electronic chip in our passport).
When I get it, they told me to avoid to forget it on a pocket and pass it in the washing machine as the chip may be destroyed!
