NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.
of tlje Sli ' ft:;n
23 FEB-9 P2:00
RECEIVED 8','
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ALLOWING THE USE OF DIGITAL COPY OF IDENTIFICATION CARDS IN
GOVERNMENT TRANSACTIONS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Identification Card (ID) plays a significant role in the society. In fact, in the 
Philippines, a person without a valid government issued ID will have a hard time 
availing and/or accessing public services (i.e. discount for PWDs and application for 
new government IDs) or worst will not be able to avail of these services at all.
In this digital age, almost all Philippine government Offices requires a person 
to register in its system before an ID can be acquired. While it cannot be argued 
that physical IDs are still important, it is quite unusual that there is still a need to 
present physical ID before a person can validly transact with the government 
especially since the present technology allows immediate presentation/verification of 
a person's ID thru photos or scanned digital copy stored in mobile phones or tablets.
If daily transactions already allow digital payments, the more reason that 
presenting a digital copy of ID should be allowed during government transactions. 
This is already seen as acceptable when the Philippines allowed presenting digital 
copy of vaccination cards before entering an establishment during the height of 
COVID-19 pandemic. Dispensing the presentation of physical IDs will help ease 
government transactions.
This bill seeks to allow digital copy of IDs during government transactions 
except to those that have international application. This will require all government 
agencies that issue IDs to provide an electronic mark to the physical IDs in order for


verification of said ID be available during transaction, subject to the rules and 
regulations that the Executive shall issue once this bill is enacted into a law.
For this purpose, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of tlif i- ft ilT
23 FEB "9 P2:00
SENATE
S. No. 185G
RECE!\ ED BV
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ALLOWING THE USE OF DIGITAL COPY OF IDENTIFICATION CARDS IN
GOVERNMENT TRANSACTIONS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Government
2 
Identification Digitization Act of2023'.
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
4 
recognize the vital role of technology in pursuit of national development and
5 
progress. The State hereby adopts a policy to create and sustain a digitally
6 
integrated government that provides responsive and efficient digital transactions in
7 
the government.
8 
Sec. 3. Scope and Coverage. - All Government Issued Identification Cards
9 
subject of new and renewal application shall be covered by this Act, except IDs that
10 
has an international application.
11 
Sec. 4. Digitization of Government IDs - All Government issued IDs that are
12 
subject of new registration or renewal application shall inscribe an electronic mark
13 
that can be read by the concerned Government's System when a digital copy of an
14 
ID is presented which shall provide the required information provided by the
15 
applicant during registration and/or application.
16 
Sec. 5. Effect of Digitization - The physical copy of the Government ID that
17 
bears an official electronic mark are no longer required to be presented in any


1 
government transaction. It shall be sufficient that a digital copy of the said ID is
2 
presented and the electronic mark therein is authenticated by the system used by
3 
the concerned government Office for the said transaction to be authorized.
4 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
5 
this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations of the year following its
6 
enactment into law.
7 
Sec. 7. Impiementing Ruies and Regulations - The Department of Information
8 
and Communication Technology (DICT) and all government Offices issuing
9 
government IDs to the public shall issue the implementing rules and regulations
10 
within sixty (60) calendar days from the effectivity hereof for the proper
11 
implementation of this Act.
12 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be
13 
declared or held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not
14 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
15 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
16 
implementing rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions
17 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
18 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
19 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,