Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7200

Introduced by Representatives Ron P. Salo and Ciriaco S. Calalang

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Each government agency maintains its own database and information in
pursuit of its mandate and the exercise of their ministerial and regulatory functions.
This set up has proven to be onerous for the citizens because it requires them to
travel to different offices in order to acquire these documents. They also have to
worry about the long queues and fees in order to obtain these documents. Many of
these agencies also usually require the original copies of the document, and thus the
citizens are constrained to procure multiple original copies and pay corresponding
fees.

For example, among others, both the NBI Clearance and Passport
applications require the PSA authenticated birth certificate. We can do away with
duplicating requirements and fees if there is an interconnected database and
information system which these agencies can check in lieu of requiring the said
documents.

This Bill seeks to address this problem and expedite dealings with the
government by harmonizing the existing database and information systems of
different government agencies and establish the Philippine Data Interconnectivity
System which shall be mandated to serve as the master database where all
organized collection of information, data, records, and other documents from
government agencies. It aims to establish a modern, comprehensive, and secured
interconnected database among government agencies that will streamline the
process of obtaining common official documents and facilitate succeeding
transactions of the public while keeping the integrity of government records and
documents.

At present, government agencies have the liberty of requiring different forms
of identifications and documents in the exercise of their mandates. This arrangement
necessitates the issuance of various, but duplicating, requirements issued by the
different agencies. As a consequence, ordinary citizens would have to submit again
and again the same requirements and forms of identifications that were already
submitted to other agencies. This redundancy becomes a burden to citizens because

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of the dragging bureaucracy and the fees imposed for the very same set of
documents.

There is also a need to embrace perpetually evolving technology and take
advantage of its benefits. This Bill shall mandate the establishment of an online
application system where the citizens will primarily process their requests.Personal
appearance shall only be required when absolutely necessary. This will
possibly do away the long queues that waste so much of the citizens'time which
could have been used for other productive activities.

Establishing this system will also make our country attractive to investments
as it will ensure fast and efficient delivery of basic social services. It will help our
government perform efficiently and lessen the tedious transactions and bureaucratic
ted tape that has been one of the banes of Philippine society.

The importance of creating policies that will help our constituents live their
lives as convenient as possible is imperative upon us in Congress. In this case, this
will necessarily reduce the costs and redundancies and simplify the processing and
delivery of services in government transactions.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is urgently sought.

RONP“’SALO ACO S. CALALANG
KABAYAN Partylist, KABAYAN Partylist

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No..7200

Introduced by Representatives Ron P. Salo and Ciriaco S. Calalang

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE DATA INTERCONNECTIVITY SYSTEM AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. —- This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Data
Interconnectivity Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to provide efficient
delivery of basic services to the public. In this regard, the State shall establish a
modern, comprehensive, and secure data interconnectivity system that will
streamline the application and succeeding transactions by citizens in the country in
obtaining common official documents and availing of basic services and social
security benefits while keeping the integrity of government records and promoting
good governance.

SEC. 3. Philippine Data Interconnectivity System. —The Philippine Data
Interconnectivity System (PDIS) is hereby established and instituted as an economic
and social tool towards the attainment of a progressive society through the provision
of efficient and fast government services to all Filipinos. The PDIS shall serve as the
master database where information, data, records, and other documents from
government agencies mandated to deliver basic services and social security benefits
are collected, organized and stored. It shall gradually consolidate all existing
government-initiated information data systems into one integrated and efficient
national information database system.

SEC. 4. Objectives.—The Philippine Data Interconnectivity System shall have the
following objectives:

a) To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government agencies in the

management of certain government records and the delivery of government
services to the public;

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b) To have a modern, comprehensive, reliable and secure national database
system;

c) To create linkages between databases of government agencies involved in
collecting personal identity information of the public and the interconnection of
agencies and offices;

d) To simplify and streamline government's processes and transactions, as well
eliminate costs and economic burden to the public by reducing bureaucratic
transactions; and

e) To ensure the integrity of the database of the Filipino people.

SEC. 5. Philippine Data Interconnectivity Center.—The Department of Information
and Communications Technology (DICT), as the implementing agency, shall
establish under its office, the Philippine Data Interconnectivity Center (PDIC) to be
headed by an undersecretary, which shall be in addition to the existing
undersecretaries of the DICT. The Philippine Data Interconnectivity Center shall be
mandated to establish, design, develop, and administer the PDIS. In addition, the
PDIC shall:

a) Establish and maintain multi-purpose databases, data warehouses, networks,
and interface of databases and related facilities and services for utilization by
the government agencies included in the PDIS;

b)

Manage the PDIS and ensure its integrity by providing adequate safeguards
for protection and confidentiality of data or information contained in the PDIS;

©)

Coordinate and provide technical assistance and logistics solution for the
management of government databases included in the PDIS and the effective
linkages of the various database systems;

qd)

Review the efficiency of the PDIS and the adequacy of the safeguards to
protect the integrity of the system;

Conduct research, studies, surveys, experiments and other investigations
necessary to achieve the purposes of this Act;

f) Submit annual reports to the Congress of the Philippines with respect to the
performance and exercise of its powers and functions;

Establish and maintain online application system for requests pertaining to
information, data, records, and other official documents; and

i)

h)

Perform such acts and other functions as may be necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 6. Filipino Reference Number.—The PDIC, in coordination with the Philippine

Statistics Authority (PSA), shall generate a Filipino Reference Number (FRN) which

shall serve as the common reference number for each individual registered in the
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PSA. The FRN shall be used to establish a linkage among the agencies included in
the PDIS.

SEC. 7. Interconnectivity Among Government Agencies.—The agencies where
the public regularly conduct multiple transactions shall be prioritized for inclusion in
the PDIC. It shall include, but not limited to, the following agencies:

a) Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);

b)

Local Civil Registrar;
c) Local Register of Deeds;
d) Land Registration Authority;

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation of the Department of Health
(Philhealth);

f) Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund (Pag-IBIG);
g) Social Security System (SSS);

h) Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR);

i) Government Service Insurance System (GSIS);

j) Philippine National Police (PNP);

k) National Bureau of Investigation (NBI);

|) Land Transportation Office (LTO);

m) Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB);

n)

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA);

0)

Department of Science and Technology (DOST);

p) DSWD Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (DSWD 4Ps);

q) Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
1) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);

Department of Education (DepEd);
t) Professional Regulation Commission (PRC);

i)

Philippine National Police (PNP); and

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v) Other agencies may be included in the PDIS as the DICT Secretary
deems necessary.

SEC. 8. Supreme Court, Congress, and Constitutional Offices. — The following
institutions or offices may also be included in the PDIS, upon their concurrence:

a) Supreme Court;

b) Senate of the Philippines;
c) House of Representatives;
d) Ombudsman;

e) Civil Service Commission;
f) Commission on Audit; and
g) Commission on Elections.

SEC. 9. Data Verification. -The government agencies that are included in the PDIS
‘shall use the data derived from the PDIS to verify the identity of a person transacting
with the agency, or availing of services or benefits therefrom without need of further
proof aside from the Filipino Reference Number, or without need of requiring other
documents that can already be verified through the PDIS.

The data to be retrieved from the PDIS shall be limited to personal information
to be used solely for identification purposes. Any data outside of the personal
information such as records of premium payments and name of beneficiaries
necessary for a member to avail of the benefits under Philhealth, Pag-IBIG, SSS,
and GSIS may also be included in the PDIS. Information indicated in the current NBI
clearance shall likewise be included in the PDIS.

The public shall only deal with the primary agency, or the agency concerned
with the specific transaction, and said primary agency shall verify and retrieve any
data, information, records, or documents that are stored in the PDIS.

SEC. 10. inter-agency One-Stop Shop. -The PDIC shall, in consultation with the
government agencies included in the PDIS, establish an inter-agency one-stop-shop
system wherein the public can request and obtain official documents at thePDIC
stored at the PDIS. Information, data, records, and other official documents issued
by the PDIC is considered official with the same validity as that issued by the primary
agency in charge of that information, data, records, or documents.

The PDIC may establish satellite one-stop shops in places convenient to the

public, such as but not limited to malls, parks, or near governmentand business
centers, where they may request and obtain official documents stored at the PDIS.

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SEC. 11. Online Applications. -The PDIC shall establish an online application
system for requests pertaining to information, data, records, and other official
documents stored at the PDIS, and may charge a reasonable fee equivalent only to
the cost of the transaction.

Applications for requests pertaining to information, data, records, and other
official documents shall primarily be online. Personal appearance of the requesting
individual shall only be required when absolutely necessary.

SEC. 12. Confidentiality of Information.—The PDIC shall ensure the confidentiality
of the data stored at the PDIS.

Only the authorized PDIC officers and employees and authorized officers and
‘employees from the agencies included in the system shall be allowed access to the
PDIS. The PDIC shall issue the necessary and appropriate guidelines which may
include authorization for personnel from among government agencies included in the
PDIC to access the PDIS.

SEC. 13. Prohibited Acts and Penalties. — Any person who:

a) Willfully provides false information or data which forms part of the PDIS shall
be punished with a fine of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or imprisonment
for a period of not less than one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the
court;

b) Being an employee of the government agencies included in the PDIS,
publishes or communicates to any person, other than those authorizedby this
Act, any information acquired in the course of employment, shall be punished
with a fine of Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) or imprisonment for
a period of not less than three (3) years, or both, at the discretion of the court;

°)

Being an employee of the government agencies included in the PDIS,
publishes or communicates to any person, other than those authorizedby this
Act, any information acquired in the course of employment with malicious
intent or for profit, shall be punished with a fine of Five hundred thousand
pesos (P500,000.00) or imprisonment for a period of not less than six (6)
years, or both, at the discretion of the court;

d)

Directly or indirectly perform an act, whether with malicious intent or for profit,
which compromises the integrity of the PDIS shall be punished with a fine of
Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) or imprisonment for a period of
not less than (6) years, or both, at the discretion of the court; and

Any group of 3 or more persons, working as a syndicate, perform an act with
malicious intent or for profit, which compromises the integrity of the PDIS shall
be punished with a fine of One Million pesos (P1,000,000.00), or
imprisonment for a period of not less than ten (10) years, or both, at the
discretion of the court;

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SEC. 14. Prohibited Administrative Acts. —

a) Any head of government offices or agencies which are part of the PDIS, or
any of its employees, who shall require documents already existing and
accessible in the PDIS shall be subjected to sixty (60) days suspension
without pay. For repeat offenders, they shall be terminated and barred from
government service. No penalty shall be implemented without due process.

b)

Any head of office or agency whose office is found to be a habitual violator of
its Citizens’ Charter shall be subjected to Sixty (60) days suspension without
pay. For repeat offenders, they shall be terminated and barred from
government service. No penalty shall be implemented without due process.

SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DICT, in consultation with the government agencies and
departments included in the PDIS, shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for the implementation of this Act.

The DICT shall consult with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and
the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in establishing the organizational structure of
the PDIC.

SEC. 16. Appropriations.The amount of OneHundred Million Pesos
(P100,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to initially implement this Act. It shall be
taken from any available funds in the National Treasury of thecurrent fiscal year. For
the succeeding fiscal years, the amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause.If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain valid.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. — All acts, executive orders, administrative orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any of the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 19. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

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