Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4167

House's No.

Introduced by Hon, Sol Aragones

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The benefits and challenges of a growing population and increasing complexity of
both public and private transactions requires simplification through the implementation of a

National ID System in the Philippines. Technological advances in biometrics and the need to

keep up with an increasing number of electronics-based activities, from voting and securing
government licenses to banking and personal finance, all point to the need for an improved

identification system

Integrated national ID systems have proven useful and beneficial to members of the
European Union, where an integrated personal information number is crucial to everyday
transactions, The World Bank has likewise spearheaded funding in the strengthening of
national statistical systems in a number of European and Central Asian countries, further
proving the necessity of such systems for the maintenance of political, economic and social
stability in both developed and developing nations.

The Philippine National [ID System embodied in this Act is an economic and social

tool of efficiency and convenience that shall integrate one:

disparate and uncoordinated
personal information systems into a single, coherent, simplified and secure system that can be
used in government and private sector transactions. ‘The National 1D benefits Filipino citizens
residing locally and abroad, affording electronic protection of their personal information and

easy ace’

ss to government services.


An integrated ID system shall likewise provide new personal information data to

possibly millions of Filipinos who may not have retained their birth certificates and other
civil registry data, thus incorporating them into the national economic, social and political

mainstream for the first time.

This Act provides sufficient technological and legal protections against fraud and

misuse, and ensures the integrity and confidentiality of all information obtained in relation to

the establishment and maintenance of such National [D S;

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

(ON. SO (AGON:
Representative, Third District of Laguna

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4167

Introduced by Hon. Sol Aragones

AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION §
IPPINES

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

ION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "National ID System Act

of the Philippines”

SECTION 2. Declaration of policy. ~ It is the policy of the State to provide swift,
efficient and responsive public and private services to its citizens in order to improve their
quality of life, make government bureaucracy responsive to their needs, and_ simplify

government, commercial and other transactions both in the public and private sectors.

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established and instituted as a tool towards the achievement of ef

“TION 3. The National ID System. ~ The "National ID System" is hereby

jent services to all
Filipino citizens. The National ID System shall provide official identification to all citizens of
the Republic of the Philippines through the issuance of the Filipino Identification Card
(National ID Card). Its purpose is to consolidate all existing Government-initiated

identification systems into one integrated and efficient identification system.

SECTION 4. The National 1D Card — Every Filipino, whether residing in the
Philippines or abroad, is required to register personal information required by the National ID.

System, and upon application shall be issued a permanent, non-transferrable National 1D

card with an ID number that shall be valid for life, subject to replacement only under the

following circumstances:


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a) When a child reaches the legal age of eighteen (18) years old;

b) When there is change in name and family name by virtue of court order or by
application of law, such as a married woman adopting the surname of the husband or

children subject to adoption;

©) For lost or destroyed ID card, subject to presentation of sufficient and acceptable

proof of sueh loss or destruction;

d) Por other revisions that may be deemed nece:

sary by the cardholder such as

changes due to age or medical intervention,

The National ID Card

shall be made of tamper-proof security material. It shall have

on its face the imprinted photograph, name, birth date, gender. date of issue, signature of
owner, the corresponding individual serial number issued by the Philippine Statistics

Authorit

y (PSA), and such other data as may be deemed necessary. The National ID Card

shall also have the capability to store at least the biometric data of the individual cardholder.

‘The initial application and issuance of the National ID Card shall be free of charge.

Replacements shall be paid for by the cardholder.

‘The pertinent details for applicants with pre-existing government issued

identification card shall be utilized and honored as reference in the issuance of the National
ID Card,

SECTION 5. Functions and Responsibilities of the Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through Philippine Embassies and
Consular Offices. ~ The PSA, as the implementing agency, shall determine, validate and

administer the data and materials required to avail of the benefits of the identification system,

The DFA, in coordination with the PSA, shall handle the registration of Filipinos

residing abroad, The abovementioned government offices shall create a special unit which

shall be responsible for

a) Accepting applications for a National 1D Card:
b) Processing of such applications; and

©) Releas

ng the National 1D card to the applicants.


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SECTION 6. Registration. — Upon the effectivity of this Act and when the ID system
has become operational, every Filipino residing in the Philippines shall apply for the
registration and issuance of the National ID Card at the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO)
of the city or municipality where one is a resident. Likewise, every Filipino residing abroad
shall apply for the registration and issuance of the Filipino ID card at the nearest Philippine

Embassy or consular office of the country where such Filipino is residing.

The PSA, through the LCRO or the Philippine Embassy or consular offices abroad, is
mandated to issue a Filipino ID card within ninety (90) days from the registration of live birth

of any Filipino citizen whether born in the Philippines or abroad.

The PSA, through the LCRO, is directed to conduct mobile registration to ensure the
registration of all Filipinos including indigenous Filipinos and those located in the remote

communities.

SECTION 7. Functional Uses of the National ID Card. ~ The National ID Card shall

be presented and honored in transactions requiring the identity, status, birth and all other

personal circumstances such as the following:

a) All transactions with the government, including:

(1) Application for passport and driver's license:

(2) Filing of applications for any services and benefits offered by the Government

Service Insurance S:

stem (GSIS), the Social Security System (:

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Home Development
Mutual Fund (HDMF); and

(3) Application for clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBL),

courts, prosecutorial services and the police:

b) Proof of identity, status, age and address for admission in all learning institutions as

well as for employment purposes:

©) Availment of benefits or privileges afforded by law to senior citizens, persons with

disability and other classes of citizens afforded special benefits by law;


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d) Proof of identity, status, age and address for transactions in banking, financial and

commercial institutions;
©) Voting identification purposes; and
1) Such other purposes and uses which the PSA may prescribe.

When the National ID Card is presented to any government agency for

identification purposes, no other additional identification card shall be required.

Except in instances allowed under the provisions of Republic Act No, 9225 or "The

Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003", the Filipino ID card shall motu

proprio be rendered invalid and ineffective upon the loss of Filipino citizenship.

SECTION 8. Change of Personal Status and Residence, ~ Any person who intends to

effect changes in his National ID including change in personal status, residence, or any other

material information. is required to inform the LCRO, the embassy or consular office where

such person is residing, within an immediate period prescribed by the PSA.

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“TION 9. Protection Against Unlawful Disclosure of Information/Records. ~ No
person may publish, disseminate or give to third parties or entities. including government
enforcement agencies, any information obtained in connection with the application for the

Filipino ID card, including the use thereof except in the following cases:

a) When the holder of the National ID Card expressly authorizes in writing such

disclosure or dissemination;

b) In the event of accident, disaster or fortuitous events, when information on the
medical history of the holder such as the blood type or special medical needs or other

relevant information are needed by medical institutions and health service workers:
©) Inextreme cases of emergency, when public health, order or safety so requires; and

d) Upon the ord

of any competent court

Any information obtained as a result of unlawful disclosure under this Act shall be

inadmissible as evidence in any judicial proceedings.


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SECTION 10. Safeguards on the National ID. ~ The PSA, as repository of all data,

shall create and maintain an electronic Filipino Citizen Registry that will contain the

ssued with the National ID Card. The PSA, as.

istered records and information of persons

the main issuing authority of the official Filipino ID Card, in coordination with the
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), shall institute the
necessary measures to protect and safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of information
provided in the National ID Card. No such information shall be released to any other agency,
office or instrumentality, government or otherwise, nor shall it be used against any person

except in ¢:

‘$ provided in Section 9 of this Act.

SECTION 11. Penal Provisions. ~ Any person who willingly and knowingly uses

false information in applying for the issuance of a National ID Card or obtains one through
fraud and utilizes the card in an unlawful manner shall be punished with a fine of not less
than fifty thousand pesos (P50,000,00) but not more than five hundred fifty thousand pesos

(P500,000.00) or an imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than two (2)

years, or both, at the discretion of the court.

Any person who shall wilfully and unjus

ifiably refuse to accept, acknowledge or

recognize the Filipino ID card as the only official identification of the owner thereof shall

also be punished with the same penalties or imprisonment stated in the preceding paragraph.

Any public official or employee who connives with the offender in committing the
acts mentioned in the last two (2) preceding paragraphs or on his own, causes the issuance of

an un

wuthorized National ID Card or approves the application for the same, despite the

knowledge of the e:

stence of fraud or false information, shall suffer the corresponding
penalties imposed in the last two (2) preceding paragraphs and shall suffer the penalty of

perpetual disqualification from government service.

The penalties imposed in this section shall be in addition to those imposed on acts

punishable by existing penal and other laws, including acts of omission,

SECTION 12. Failure fo Present National ID Card, ~ Failure of any person to present
a National ID Card when transacting business with the government or with private entities
requiring its use and presentation shall not be a ground to deny or limit the grant of basic

government and private service as long as such transaction is qualified under existing laws.


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Semi 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within ninety (90) days upon
DFA,

approval of this Act, the PSA, in coordination with relevant agencies such as the DICT
NEDA, DILG, DSWD, DOST, COMELEC, GSIS, SSS.

PhilHealth and the Bureau of

Immigration, shall promulgate

es and regulations and exchange existing technologies and
best practices on the issuance of identification cards to effectively implement the provisions

of this Act.

SECTION 14, Funding. — The amount necessary ( implement the provisions of this
Act shall be included in the budget of the PSA and the DEA in the annual General

Appropriations Act.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. — If any provision, section or part of this Act shall
be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair

any other provisions, sections or parts hereof.

SECTION 16. Repealing Clause.. ~ All laws, decrees. orders, rules and regulations
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified

accordingly

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publication in the Offi

‘TION 17. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation,

Approved,