THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
6306 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Biazon 
Explanatory Note 
The government is in a continuing quest to search for fast approaches to solve problems 
of bureaucratic procedures. "Red tape" has been the center of complaints of many who queue in 
government offices. It is not surprising therefore, that a number of treatise on public 
administration validated the impressions imprinted on the minds of common civilians anent the 
inefficiency plaguing the governmental workforce as well as the leadership itself. 
The problem mentioned above accounted for one of the reasons for the failure of bringing 
governmental efforts closer to the people. And just like us, other countries are on the look out to 
experiment on innovative approaches to solve red tape. But the experiences of such countries as 
Germany, Japan, Indonesia, South Africa and Malaysia provide examples in addressing the said 
bureaucratic system through an identification (ID) system. In these countries, government 
transactions are easily facilitated and immediately responded to with the use of their national ID 
card. 
This bill seeks to establish an effective system to curb the perennial problems of red tape 
in the bureaucracy and to simplify the process relative to public and private transactions of 
citizens. 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Biazon 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM FOR THE NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM IN 
THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FOR BENEFITS AND RIGHTS AND CORRESPONDING 
OBLIGATIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “National Identification System Act 
of 2004.” 
SEC. 2. Establishment of the National Identijkation $stem in the Philippines. - There 
shall be established a national identification system for all citizens in the Republic of the 
Philippines. 
SEC. 3. Registration. - Any person residing in the Philippines shall, within one hundred 
and eighty (180) days after the approval of this Act, apply for registration and issuance of an 
identification card with permanent serial number, at the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of the 
city, municipality or province where he or she is located. 
The person, parent or legal guardian of a minor child or an incompetent person shall, 
within ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act, file such application with the Office of the 
Local Civil Registrar of the city, municipality or province where he or she is located. In case of a 
new born child, the parents or legal guardian shall register such child within thirty (30) days after 
birth. 
No accredited official of a foreign government recognized by the Republic of the 
Philippine or member of his family and his official staff, who are not Filipino citizens, shall be 
required to apply for an identification card. 
SEC. 4. Forms and Contents. - The Department of Justice (DOJ) shall prepare the forms 
for the National Identification System (NIS). Such form shall contain the name, age, date and 
place of birth, name of spouse, name of parents, residence - both permanent and temporary, 
occupation, and such additional matters and information as may be necessary and required by the 
DOJ. The form shall call for the presentation of passport size photographs of the person to be 
registered and issued an identification card, one of which shall be attached to his National 
Identification Card and the other on the Reference Card filed with the Office of the Local Civil 
Registrar. 
Every person required to apply for registration and the issuance of an identification card 
shall submit, under oath, the information required for registration, or suffer the pain of 
prosecution for perjury. 


SEC. 5. Functional Uses ofthe ID Card. - The ID card that will be issued to all citizens 
shall be presented in the following cases: 
a) in all transactions with any government agency; 
b) in filing application for any services and benefits offered by the Government Service 
Insurance System (GSIS), the Social Security System (SSS) and the Philippine Health 
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth); 
c) in tendering income tax payments to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); 
d) to serve as police clearance, whether for domestic or for foreign employment use; 
e) to serve as the advance paper to be presented for admission in any government 
hospital, health centers or similar institutions; 
f )  to serve as identification case for admission in all schools, colleges, leaming 
institutions and/or universities, whether public or private; or 
g) in all other similar transactions or uses which may be defined by the DOJ in the 
implementing rules and regulations. 
SEC. 6. ID Card to Replace NBI Clearance. - Upon effectivity of this Act, the 
identification card shall replace the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance. 
SEC. 7. Change of Personal Status and Residence. - Any person changing his personal 
status and residence within the a city or municipality or from one city or municipality to another 
shall, likewise inform the Local Civil Registrar of both city or municipality of such proposed 
change or transfer of residence within ten (10) days after such transfer to the new address. 
SEC. 8. Penal Provisions. - Any person required to apply for registration and issuance of 
an identification card who fails to or refuses to make such application within the prescribed 
period or any parent or legal guardian required to register a minor child, under guardianship shall 
be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand pesos (@1,000.00) or imprisonment of not 
more than one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court. 
SEC. 9. Liability for Fraud. - Any person who files an application for the registration and 
issuance of an identification card containing statements known to him to be false or who 
procures or attempts to procure registration and issuance of an identification card other than his 
own, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand pesos (@5,000.00) or an 
imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court. 
SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Justice shall 
promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act 
shall be charged to the budget of the Department of Justice as provided in the current General 
Appropriations Act. 
Thereafter, the necessary sum for the implementation of this Act shall be provided in 
subsequent General Appropriations Acts. 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - Any provisions of law, presidential decree, executive 
orders, rules and regulations contrary to the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 


SEC. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, 
whichever comes earlier. 
Approved.