Senate
of tlif ^ i  Ct efar/
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1267
*16 
DEC- 6  P 3 5 4
R£C£A/cD BV:
Introduced by S enator Win T. G atchalian
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEM AND THE 
NATIONAL DATABASE AUTHORITY, PROVIDING ITS POWERS 
AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to establish a modern, comprehensive and 
secure national database system that will streamline the process of 
obtaining common official docum ents and efficiently facilitate the 
transactions of the public while maintaining the integrity of 
government records or docum ents and promoting good governance.
Obtaining records and other docum ents from government 
agencies which are m andated to deliver basic services and social 
security benefits for the people rem ains a slow, inefficient and 
tedious process. The government should take advantage of 
technological advances to further improve efficiency in the delivery 
of services by streamlining the process of obtaining common official 
docum ents and facilitating succeeding transactions of the public in 
availing of basic services and social security benefits. In recent 
years, technology has rapidly evolved to enable electronic record 
creation and the construction of system linkages to cater to new 
requirements.
It is expedient and imperative for the government to establish 
a National Database System to be administered by a National 
Database Authority which utilizes a unique personal reference


number. The personal reference num ber will be generated by the 
Philippine Statistics Authority for every individual registered in the 
National Database System. The agencies where the public regularly 
conduct multiple transactions shall be prioritized for inclusion in 
the National Database System. These agencies are the Philippine 
Statistics Authority, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, 
Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Security 
System, Government Service Insurance System, National Bureau of 
Investigation and Philippine National Police. The government shall 
also look into the possibility of including other government agencies 
in 
the 
National 
Database 
System 
particularly 
the 
Land 
Transportation Office and the Office of Consular Affairs of the 
Department of Foreign Affairs.
The advantages of establishing the National Database System 
include, among others, having a reliable identification reference 
system of citizens and other individuals residing in the Philippines 
and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of government 
agencies in the m anagement and deliveiy of services. This m easure 
also aims to minimize, if not entirely do away, with the need to go to 
different offices every time one needs to obtain a copy of a certain 
government docum ent or record. This is also in line with President 
Rodrigo R. Duterte's promise during his first State of the Nation 
Address that there will be no more long lines when availing of 
government services.
The government shall endeavor to secure the proposed 
National Database System and ensure that data recorded and 
derived from the system shall only be used for the purposes 
intended by the provisions of this Act.
In view of the foregoing, im m e d ^  passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought.
17
. GATCHALIAN


Senate
o( tlif ifftrrtar/
S\
%■ 1
*16 
DEC “ 6 P 3 5 4
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
KCEIVLDIV;
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1267
Introduced by S enator Win T. G atchalian
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AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEM AND THE 
NATIONAL DATABASE AUTHORITY, PROVIDING ITS POWERS 
AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. S h o rt Title. - This Act shall be known as the 
“National Database System Act. ”
SEC. 2. D eclaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared the 
policy of the State to ensure the efficient delivery of basic services to 
the public. Pursuant to this policy, the State recognizes the need to 
take advantage of technological advances to achieve efficiency in 
public service. Towards this end, the State shall establish a 
modern, comprehensive and secure national database system that 
will be utilized to streamline the application for common official 
docum ents and for availing basic services and social security 
benefits while ensuring the integrity of the database system and 
promoting good governance.


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SEC. 3. 
N ational D atab ase System ; Purposes. -  There is 
hereby established a National Database System, which shall serve 
as the primary database of government where all organized 
collection of information, records and other docum ents from 
government agencies m andated to deliver basic services and social 
security benefits are stored. It shall gradually consolidate all 
existing government-initiated information data systems into one 
integrated national database system.
The National Database System is established for the following 
purposes:
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 which include, among 
others, healthcare and social security services;
b) 
To have a modern, comprehensive, reliable and secure 
national database system necessary for the efficient operation of 
government agencies involved in the delivery of services to the 
public by utilizing innovations and advances in technology;
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 providing 
basic services;
d) 
To simplify the government’s processes and eliminate 
costs and other administrative tasks by reducing the need to 
repeatedly register with the different government agencies during 
transactions;


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e) 
To 
strengthen 
national security and public safety 
programs and assist in the fight against crime by providing the 
relevant authorities access to a secure national database system 
which stores civil or biological information of citizens and foreign 
residents in the country; and
f) 
To enhance integrity of the government’s reference 
system and minimize the capacity for an individual to assum e 
multiple identities which has contributed to illegal activities.
SEC. 4. 
N ational D atab ase A uthority. -  The National 
Database Authority, hereinafter referred to as the Authority, is 
hereby established to design, develop and adm inister the National 
Database System and is placed under the policy, technical and 
administrative supervision of the Departm ent of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT). The Authority shall perform 
the following functions:
a) 
Establish the National Database System (NDS), a reliable 
database system of citizens and other individuals residing in the 
Philippines, with a unique personal reference num ber (PRN) as the 
primary key identifier of each individual registered in the system;
b) 
Establish and m aintain multi-purpose databases, data 
warehouses, networks, and interface of databases and related 
facilities and services suitable for utilization by the government 
agencies included in the NDS;
c) 
Adopt and prescribe standards for the m aintenance of 
the NDS;


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d) 
Manage the NDS and ensure its integrity by providing 
adequate safeguards for protection and confidentiality of data or 
information contained in the NDS;
e) 
Coordinate and provide technical assistance and logistics 
solution for the management of government databases included in 
the NDS and the effective linkages of the various database systems;
f) 
Review the efficiency of the NDS and the adequacy of the 
safeguards to protect the integrity of the system;
g) 
Conduct research, studies, surveys, experiments and 
other investigations necessary to achieve the purposes of this Act;
h) 
Submit annual reports to the Congress of the Philippines 
with respect to the performance and exercise of its functions, 
powers and its accomplishments;
i) 
Prescribe 
and charge 
reasonable 
fees 
for 
services 
rendered to the public; and
j) 
Perform such acts and other functions as may be 
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act as may be 
authorized by the Secretary of Information and Communications 
Technology.
SEC. 5. H ead o f O rganization; Q ualifications. -  The
Authority shall be headed by an Administrator who shall report 
directly to the DICT Secretary. The Administrator shall be assisted 
by two (2) Deputy Administrators.
The Administrator and Deputy Administrators shall be 
appointed 
by 
the 
President 
of 
the 
Philippines 
upon 
the 
recommendation 
of 
the 
Secretary 
of 
Information 
and


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Communications Technology. They shall hold office for six (6) years 
unless sooner removed for cause. 
Appointment to any vacancy 
shadl only be for the unexpired term of the predecessor.
The Administrator and Deputy Administrators m ust be 
Filipino citizens and at least thirty-five (35) years of age. In addition, 
they shall be persons of good moral character, unquestionable 
integrity and known probity, and have attained competence in the 
field of computer science, information technology, law, finance, 
management, or economics.
SEC. 
6. 
Inter-Agency 
C oordinating 
an d  
O versight 
Com mittee. 
-  An 
Inter-Agency 
Coordinating 
and 
Oversight 
Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, is hereby 
created 
which 
shall 
facilitate 
the 
coordination 
among 
the 
government agencies which shall be initially included in the NDS 
and 
serve 
as 
an 
oversight 
committee 
for 
the 
effective 
implementation of this Act.
The 
Committee 
shall 
be 
responsible 
in 
proposing the 
organizational structure of the Authority.
The Committee shall be composed of the following:
a) 
Secretary 
of 
Information 
and 
Communications 
Technology, as chairperson;
b) 
National Statistician, as vice chairperson;
c) 
Director-General 
of 
the 
National 
Economic 
and 
Development Authority;
d) 
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government;


e) 
President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
(Philhealth);
f) 
Director-General of the National Bureau of Investigation;
g) 
President of the Government Service Insurance System;
h) 
President of the Social Security System; and
i) 
President of the Home Development Mutual Fund, as 
members.
The members of the Committee may designate their duly 
authorized representatives to attend the meetings of the Committee.
SEC. 7. S ecretariat. -  The Secretaiy of Information and 
Communications Technology shall designate personnel from the 
DICT to serve as secretariat to the Committee and as such shall 
provide administrative and technical support to the Committee.
SEC. 8. P ersonal R eference Number. 
-  The Philippine 
Statistics Authority shall generate a personal reference number 
(PRN) which shall serve as the common reference number for each 
individual registered in the NDS. The PRN shall be used to establish 
a linkage among the agencies included in the NDS.
SEC. 9. L inkage Among G overnm ent Agencies. -  The 
agencies where the public regularly conduct multiple transactions 
shall be prioritized for inclusion in the NDS. The following agencies 
shall be included in the initial phase of implementation of this Act: 
23a) Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
24b) Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth);
25c) Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund (Pag-IBIG);
26d) Social Security System (SSS);
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le) Government Service Insurance System (GSIS); 
2f) National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); and 
3g) Philippine National Police (PNP).
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The Authority shall, in consultation with the Committee, 
coordinate with the aforementioned agencies in establishing the 
standards and design of an effective and efficient information 
technology (IT) system to be used for the NDS, as well as the 
piloting and rolling out of the system.
Within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Authority shall recommend to the President of 
the 
Philippines, 
through 
the 
Secretary 
of Information 
and 
Communications Technology, the feasibility and practicability of 
including other government offices and agencies in the NDS 
particularly the Land Transportation Office and the Office of 
Consular Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
SEC. 10. Id en tity  V erification. -  The PSA, Philhealth, Pag- 
IBIG, SSS, GSIS, NBI, PNP and other government agencies that will 
be included in the NDS shall use the data which may be derived 
from the NDS to verify the identity of a person transacting or 
availing of the benefits from their respective offices without need of 
further proof
The data to be derived from the NDS shall be limited to 
biological information and solely used for identification purposes. 
Any data outside of the personal information such as records of 
premium pa3mients and name of beneficiaries necessary for a 
member to avail of the benefits of Philhealth, Pag-IBIG, SSS, and


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GSIS may be included in the NDS. Information indicated in the NBI 
and PNP clearance shall also be included in the NDS.
SEC. 11. Inter-agency One-Stop Shop. -  The Authority shall, 
in consultation with the Committee, establish an inter-agency one- 
stop-shop system wherein the public can request and obtain any of 
the following docum ents and other official docum ents from the PSA, 
Philhealth, Pag-IBIG, SSS, GSIS, NBI and PNP using the NDS:
a) 
Civil registry docum ents of birth, marriage, death and 
certificate of no marriage in security paper;
b) 
Philhealth 
membership 
records 
including 
premium 
payments and name of beneficiaries;
c) 
Pag-lBlG 
membership 
records 
including 
premium 
payments and name of beneficiaries;
d) 
SSS membership records including premium payments 
and name of beneficiaries;
e) 
GSIS membership records including premium pa3mients 
and name of beneficiaries;
f) 
NBI clearance; and
g) 
PNP clearance.
SEC. 12. 
C onfidentiality o f Inform ation. -  The Authority 
shall ensure the confidentiality of the data encoded and derived 
from the NDS.
Only the authorized Authority officers and employees shall be 
allowed to access the NDS. Upon the inclusion of other government 
agencies in the NDS, 
the Committee shall promulgate 
the 
appropriate rules and regulations which may include authorization


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for personnel from among government agencies included in the NDS 
to access the NDS.
Data encoded and derived from the NDS shall only be 
furnished to the person to whom the data pertains, or to another 
person upon the written consent of the person to whom the data 
pertains, or upon the order of a competent court.
SEC. 13. P rohibited A cts an d  P enalties. -  Any person who:
a) 
Willfully provides false information or data which forms 
part of the NDS 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 Authority, PSA, Philhealth, Pag- 
IBIG, SSS, GSIS, NBI, PNP or a government agency included in the 
NDS, publishes or communicates to any person other than those 
mentioned in Section 12 of this Act any information acquired in the 
course of employment, shall be punished with a fine of One 
hundred thousand pesos (PI00,000.00) or imprisonment for a 
period of not less than three (3) years, or both, at the discretion of
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the court;
c) 
Directly 
or 
indirectly 
performs 
an 
act, 
which 
compromises the integrity of the NDS 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.


In cases where t±ie offender is a public official or employee, 
punishm ent under this Act shall be without prejudice to any 
administrative penalties that may also be imposed.
SEC. 14. A ppropriations. -  The am ount of One hundred 
million pesos (P100,000,000.00) shall be set aside from any 
available 
funds 
of the 
National 
Treasury, 
and 
is 
hereby 
appropriated and authorized to be released for the organization and 
initial operations of the NDA. 
Thereafter, such sum  as may be 
necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 15. 
Im plem enting R ules an d  R egulations. -  Within 
ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, the Committee shall 
formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act.
SEC. 16. S ep arab ility  Clause. - If any provision or part of 
this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts 
or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 
17. R epealing Clause. -  All other laws, decrees, 
executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
amended, repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
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days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national
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newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,
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