USE WF REPRE!

Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon Ctiy DATE:

TNR:

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS me

First Regular Sessi .

12!

HOUSE BILL N'

Introduced by REP. FELICIANO R. BELMON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is one of only nine countries in the world without a national
identification system. ‘This bill seeks to address this deficiency and institutionalize the
Filipino Identification System to improve goverment services and limit red tape in
government transactions.

‘The Filipino Identification System shall be established and instituted to provide
efficient services to all Filipinos, whether here or abroad, through the issuance of the
Filipino Identification Card. This card shall provide official identification for all citizens of
the Republic of the Philippines, and unify all existing government issued identification
cards. The system will provide for a single card sufficient for all transactions requiring
proof of identification with both the government and the private sector.

‘There have been numerous attempts to introduce a national identification system in
including House Bill No. 5060 in the 16" Congress which was approved on
the House of Representatives.

To address privacy issues in institutionalizing a national identification system, this,
bill provides for safeguards on the use of this system, Among others, it is prohibited for any
person to publish, disseminate or give to third parties or entities information obtained in
connection with the application for the identification with a few exceptions. It also
mandates the Philippine Statistics Authority to ensure the protection of the data contained in
the cards. A national identification card will lower costs, streamline transactions, and
provide ease and convenience. Certainly, the positive effects of this bill outweigh the
perceived negative impact

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is hereby requeste:

FELICIANO R. BELMONTE, JR.

NT ATIVES



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Ctiy

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. FELICIANO R. BELMONTE, JR.

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE FILIPINO IDEN

ICATION SYSTEM

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

‘CTION 1, This Act shall be known as the “!

lipino Identification System Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ I is the policy of the State to promote a just and
dynamic social order that shall ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and
free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services and
improved quality of life for all. Towards this end, an effective identification system is
hereby established to facilitate transactions with the government and to simplify the
processes relative to public and private services,

SEC. 3. The Filipino Identification System. ~ ‘The Filipino Identification System
herein referred to as the “ID system” is hereby established and instituted as an economic
and social tool towards the attainment of a progressive society through the provision of
efficient services to all Filipinos. ‘The identification system shall provide official
identification of all citizens of the Republic of the Philippines through the issuance of the
Filipino Identification Card (Pilipino ID card). It shall gradually concert and consolidate all
existing Goyernment-initiated identification systems into one integrated and efficient
identification system.

SEC. 4. The Filipino Identification (1D) Card. ~ Every Filipino, whether residing in
the Philippines or abroad, is mandated to register personal information required by the ID
system, and upon application shall be issued a non-transferrable Filipino ID card with an ID
number that shall be valid for life, subject to replacement only under the following
circumstances:

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

(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 husbands


(c) For lost or destroyed ID card;

(d) For other revisions that may be deemed necessary by the cardholder such as
changes in the facial features due to age or medical intervention.

Pilipino cardholders upon reaching the age of sixty (60) years old are required to
renew their Filipino ID card, free of charge.

‘The Filipino 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
Authority (PSA), and such other data as may be deemed necessary, The Filipino 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 Filipino ID card shall be free of charge as
part of the government’s social service responsibility. A replacement fee shall be paid by
the cardholder.

The pertinent details for applicants with preexisting government issued
identification card shall be utilized and honored as reference in the issuance of the Filipino
ID card,

SEC. 5. Roles and Functions of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through the 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 Pilipinos
residing abroad. ‘The abovementioned government offices shall create a special unit which
shall be responsible for:

(a) Accepting applications for a Filipino 1D card;
(b) Processing of such applications; and

(c) Releasing the Filipino ID card to the applicants.

SEC. 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 Filipino ID card at the Local Civil Registry Office (CRO)
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 Philippi
Embassy or consular office of the country where they are 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.

‘The parents or the legal guardian of the minor, incompetent, or disabled person shall
be responsible for the application and safekeeping of the issued Filipino ID card.


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

SEC. 7. Features Involving the Private Sector and the Local Government Units
The PSA shall encourage the cooperation of the private sector and the local government
units (LGUs) in granting additional benefits and privileges to Filipino ID cardholders.

8. Functional Uses of the Filipino ID Card, ~ The Filipino 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 System (GSIS), the Social Security System (SSS),
the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philllealth) and the Home
Development Mutual Fund (HDMI); and

(3) Application for clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBD,
courts, prosecutor and the police;

(b) Proof of identity, status, age and address for admission in all learning institutions
as well as for employment purposes;

(c) Availment of benefits or privileges afforded by law to senior citizens;

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

(e) Voting identification purposes; and
() Such other purposes and uses which the PSA may prescribe.

When the Filipino ID card is presented to any government agency or 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.

SEC. 9. Change of Personal Status and Residence. ~ Any person who intends to
effect changes in his Filipino ID including change in personal status, residence, or any
material data, shall have the duty to inform the LCRO, the embassy or consular office
where the person is residing, within a certain period as shall be prescribed by the PSA

SEC. 10. Protection Against Unlawful Disclosure Of Information/Records. — No
person may publish, disseminate or give to third parties or entities including government



enforcement agencies
x

any information obtained in connection with the application for the
pino ID card, including the use thereof except in the following case:

(a) When the holder of the Filipino ID card expressly authorizes the dis
such information to a third person, entity or agency;

losure of

(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 worker:

(c) When the interest of public health or safety so requires; and

(d) Upon the order of any competent court,
Any information obtained as a result of unlawful disclosure under this Act shall be

inadmissible as evidence in any criminal proceedings against the holder of the Filipino ID
card

SEC. 11. Safeguards on the Filipino 1D. ~The PSA, as repository of all data, shall
create and maintain a Filipino Citizen Registry that will contain the registered records and
information of persons issued with the Filipino ID card. ‘The PSA, as the main issuing
authority of the official Filipino ID eard, shall institute the necessary measures to safeguard
the information provided in the Filipino ID card. No such information shall be released to
any agency, office or instrumentality, government or otherwise, nor shall it be used against
any person except in cases stipulated in Section 10 of this Act.

The PSA, in pursuance of its mandated statistical function, may generate and release
aggregated information from the Filipino Citizen Registry in the form of summaries and
ti ical tables: Provided, That no reference to an individual shall app and that no
on can be readily identified in the released information,

‘The information in the Filipino Citizen Registry shall be categorized in a manner
that allows proper safeguards in data access, security, and change management

SEC. 12. Penal Provisions. ~ Any person who knowingly uses false information in
applying for the issuance of'a Filipino LD card or procures 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 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 willfully and unjustifiably 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 unauthorized Filipino ID card or approves the application for the same, despite the
knowledge of the existence 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.

SEC. 13. Failure to Present Filipino ID Card. — Failure of any person to present a
Filipino 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.

SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days upon
approval of this Act, the PSA, in coordination with relevant agencies such as the DEA, the
National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of the Interior and L¢
Government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of
Science and Technology, the Commission on Elections, the GSIS, the SSS, the Philllealth
and the Bureau of Immigration, shall promulgate rules and regulations and exchange
existing technologies and best practices on the issuance of identification cards to effectively
implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 15. Funding, ~The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the budget of the PSA and the DFA in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 16, 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.

SEC, 17. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations which
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 18. Bffectivity. ~ ‘This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,