Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10710 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), established under Republic Act No. 11055, 
aims to provide a single, unified, and efficient identification system for all citizens and resident 
aliens of the Philippines. While the current system significantly enhances identification processes 
and access to various services, there remains a crucial component that can further improve its 
utility and security: the inclusion of a visible signature from the ID holder. 
This bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 11055 to include a visible signature of the ID 
holder on the PhilSys ID card. The inclusion of a signature is vital for several reasons. First, it 
enhances security and verification. A visible signature provides an additional layer of security, 
allowing easy comparison to signatures provided during transactions, thus reducing the risk of 
identity fraud and ensuring the authenticity of the ID holder. 
Second, it facilitates legal and financial transactions. In many legal and financial 
transactions, signatures are required to validate documents and agreements. Lawyers, notaries, and 
financial institutions often rely on signatures to verify the identity of the individual involved. The 
presence of a visible signature on the PhilSys ID will streamline these processes, making it more 
convenient and secure for both the ID holder and the service providers. 
Third, it aligns with international standards and practices. Many countries incorporate 
visible signatures in their national IDs, enhancing the document's acceptance and utility in various 
international contexts, such as travel and cross-border transactions. 
August 5, 2024
8:00 am


This proposal is grounded in other legal provisions and considerations, such as the Civil 
Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386) which emphasizes the importance of signatures in 
verifying the consent and identity of parties involved in agreements, particularly in the provisions 
relating to contracts and obligations. 
The inclusion of a visible signature on the PhilSys ID card is a practical and necessary 
enhancement that will provide additional security, facilitate legal and financial transactions, and 
align the Philippine ID system with international standards. This amendment supports the 
overarching goals of the PhilSys to promote ease of doing business, ensure the security of personal 
identification, and improve public service delivery. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10710 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11055, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"PHILIPPINE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM ACT," TO INCLUDE A VISIBLE 
SIGNATURE OF THE PHILSYS CARDHOLDER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the  This Act shall be known as 
the “PhilSys Visible Signature Act.” 
 SEC. 2. Amendment to Section 7 of Republic Act No. 11055. — Section 7 of Republic Act 
No. 11055 is hereby amended  to read, as follows: 
“SEC. 7. Philippine Identification System Components. - The PhilSys shall have the 
following key components: 
"xxx" 
"(c) The PhilID. -- A nontransferable card shall preferably be issued to all citizens or 
resident aliens registered under the PhilSys subject to the guidelines to be issued by the PSA: 
"(1) Features. -- The PhilID shall be the physical medium issued to convey essential 
information about the person's identity containing on its face the PSN, full name, sex, blood type, 
marital status (optional), place of birth, a front facing photograph, date of birth, SIGNATURE, and 
address of the individual in whose favor it was issued. xxx" 


"xxx" 
 
SEC. 3. Amendment to Section 8 of Republic Act No. 11055. — Section 8 of Republic Act 
No. 11055 is hereby amended to include a new subsection (f), as follows: 
 
“SEC 8. PhilSys Registry Data. -- Information to be collected and stored under the PhilSys 
shall be limited to the following: 
 
"xxx" 
 
"(C) SIGNATURE." 
 
"xxx." 
 
SEC. 4. Security Features of the Visible Signature. — The visible signature shall be 
integrated with the existing security features of the PhilSys ID, including but not limited to: 
 
(a) Holographic overlay to prevent forgery; 
(b) Microprinting and fine-line patterns for tamper resistance; 
(c) Biometric verification methods to ensure the signature's authenticity; and  
(d) On-site collection of verified signatures.  
 
 SEC. 5. Data Privacy and Security. — The implementation of the visible signature shall 
adhere to the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) to ensure the protection of 
personal data. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shall implement measures to safeguard 
the signature data from unauthorized access and use. 
 
SEC. 6. Issuance and Renewal. — The visible signature shall be included in both new 
issuances and renewals of the PhilSys ID. Existing holders of the PhilSys ID may apply for a 
reissuance to include the visible signature, subject to guidelines to be established by the PSA. 
 
         SEC. 7. Public Awareness and Education Campaign. — The PSA, in coordination with 
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT), and other relevant agencies, shall conduct a nationwide 
information campaign to educate the public about the inclusion of the visible signature in the 
PhilSys ID and its benefits. 
 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. — The initial funding for the implementation of this Act shall be 
charged against the current appropriations of the PSA. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary 
for the continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 


  
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the PSA, in coordination with the DICT and other relevant government 
agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of 
this Act. 
 
         SEC. 10. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
         SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
         SEC. 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at 
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
         Approved,