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oar 0 JUN 2015

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE:
Quezon City

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 368

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE FILIPINO IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As the government continues to strategize in combatting corruption
and to minimize the furtherance of red tape in government and private
transactions, the establishment of the Filipino Identification System should
be in place.

This proposal seeks the establishment of a national identification
system for each and every Filipino, whether living in the Philippines or
abroad, that is systematic, unified and consolidated. It is aimed at
identifying all Filipinos and to simplify thé requirements in proving the
identity of a person in order to expedite public and private dealings.

With the threat of invasion of privacy and unauthorized disclosure of
information, the bill also provided for several safety measures and penal
sanctions for violations in case of unsanctioned revelations.

With the foregoing, passage of the bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

:
HOUSE BILL NO. 368

Introduced by Representative FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE FILIPINO IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Filipino Identification System
Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It 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 (Filipino ID card). It shall


gradually concert and consolidate all existing Government-initiated
identification systems into one integrated and efficient identification

system.

SEC. 4. The Filipino Identification (ID) 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-transferable 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
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;

(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.

Filipino 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.


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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 shail be paid by the cardholder.

The pertinent details for applicants with preexisting government
issued identification card shail 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
Filipinos residing abroad. The abovementioned government offices shall
create a special unit which shall be responsible for:

(2) Accepting applications for a Filipino ID 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 (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 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.


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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.

SEC. 8. Functional Uses of the Filipino ID Card. - The Filipino
1D card shall be presented and honored in transactions requiring the
identity, status, birth and all other personal circumstances such as the
foliowing:

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 (PhilHealth) and the Home
Development Mutual Fund (HDMF); and

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


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b) Proof of identity, status, age and address for admission in
all iearning 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;

@) Voting identification purposes; and

f) 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 any
information obtained in connection with the application for the Filipino ID
card, including the use thereof except in the following cases


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

b) In the event of accident, disaster or fortuitous events,
when information on the medica! history of the hoider such
as the blood type or special medical needs or otner
relevant information are needed by medical institutions
and health service workers;

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

¢) Upon the order of any competent court

Any information obtained as a result of unlawful disclosure under this
Act shail be inadmussibie as evidence in any criminal proceedings against

the hoider of the Filipino ID card

SEC. 11. Safeguards on the Filipino ID. - The PSA, as repository
of all data, shail create and maintain a Filipino Citizen Registry that will
contain the registered records and information of persons issued with the
Filipino 1D card. The PSA, as the main issuing authority of the official
Filipino 1D card, shall institute the necessary measures to safeguard the
information provided in the Filipino 1D card. No such information shail be
released to any agency, office or instrumentality, government or
otherwise, nor shail 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 statistical tables: Provided, That no
reference to an individual shail appear and that no person can be readily
identified in the released information.


The information in the Filipino Citizen Registry shall be categorized in
@ 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 1D card or
procures one through fraud and utilizes the card in an unlawful manner
shall be punished with a fine of not jess 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,
acknowiedge or recognize the filipino ID card as the only official
identification of the owner thereof shal! aiso 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 fast two (2) preceding paragraphs
or, on his cwn, causes the issuance of an unauthorized Filipino {D 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 snail
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


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shal! 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 Reguiatons Within ninety

(90) days upen approvai of this Act, the PSA, in coordination with relevant
agencies such as the OFA, the National Economic and Development
Authority, the Department of the Interior and Loca! Government, the
Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of
Science and Technology, the Commission on Elections, the GSIS, the
SSS, the PhiiHiealth and the Bureau of Immigration, shail promuigate ruies
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 shail 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 deciared unconstitutional or invatid, such juagment
shall not affect, invalidate or impair any other provisions, sections or
parts hereof.

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

SEC. 18. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) gays

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of generai
circulation.

Approved,