National ID System Bills in Congress

Chapter II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
There are at least a hundred (100) million Filipinos around the world, and approximately
10 million of which are Overseas Filipino Workers. Simply, there are Filipinos everywhere.
However, there are few who are still unaccounted for and there are also those who do not own any
government- issued identification cards making it hard for them to transact with the government
or any government owned and controlled corporations, as it is now a must to present identification
cards issued by the government before they can even be entertained.
The Philippines is one of the only 9 countries in the world without a national identification
system, according to Belmonte. Under his proposal, the Filipino Identification System will
consolidate all government- issued ID systems into one to “improve government services and limit
red tape in government transactions.” ⁱ
It’s been almost two decades since the government first initiated the establishment of a
national ID system. In 1996, then President Fidel Ramos issued Administrative Order No. 308
adopting a National Computerized Identification System. Unfortunately, the order was declared
unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on the ground that legislative approval is required for the
scheme (Palabrica, 2015).
Although the security and privacy concerns are valid, we should not lose sight, however,
of the benefits or advantages of having a uniform computerized system of identification of Filipino
citizens wherever they may be. At present, the rule of the thumb on identification in public and
commercial transactions is the presentation of at least two government-issued ID cards that bear
the photo of the cardholder. However, there are Filipinos who are not qualified to carry any
government- issued ID card.
The proposed national identification card is aimed at consolidating all government- issued
cards into an integrated and credible identification system. With the Lower House’s approval of
certain bills, it is now up to the hands of those in the Senate. ⁳
As of this moment, there are at least 2 impending house bills in the Senate with regards the
implementation of the National Identification Card to all Filipinos whether residing in the
Philippines or abroad: House Bill No. 12; House Bill No. 696; House Bill No. 523 and, Senate Bill
95, to name a few.
ⁱ http://www.rappler.com/nation/140089-house-bills-national-id-system
⁲ http://business.inquirer.net/192804/national-id-system#ixzz4gJrtFPpJ
⁲ Ibid.
⁴ http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/11/16/belmonte-files-national-id-system-bill
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ http://www.update.ph/2016/11/national-id-system-pushed-in-congress/11024
⁷ http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/15/16/arroyo-files-bill-for-unified-id-system
⁸ http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/07/08/1600765/belmonte-trillanes-push-national-id-system
House Bill No. 12
House Bill 12 is an act establishing a Filipino identification system filed by Quezon City
Representative Sonny Belmonte. The ID system shall provide official identification of all citizens
of the country through the issuance of a Filipino ID card and shall gradually convert and
consolidate all existing government-initiated identification systems into one integrated and
efficient identification system.
The Filipino ID card shall be mandatory and shall be valid for life. It shall only be replaced when
a child reaches the age of 18, when there is a change in name and family like in a marriage, or for
lost or destroyed ID card (Cruz, 2016). ⁴
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shall determine, validate and administer the data and
materials required to avail of the benefits of the identification system, and shall implement this for
Filipinos in the country; while, the Department of Foreign Affairs will handle the ID of the
Overseas Filipinos.
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 Filipino ID card shall be honored in transactions requiring the identity, status, birth and all
other personal circumstances, including application for passport, driver’s license; applications for
any services and benefits offered by the Government Services Insurance System (GSIS), the Social
Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF); National Bureau
of Investigation (NBI). ⁵
Likewise the ID can also be court, prosecutor and the police clearances; schools as well as for
employment purposes; voting identification; availment of benefits afforded by law to senior
citizens; for banking and financial institution.
It is punishable by law, violations such as false information in applying for the issuance of a
Filipino ID card or procures through fraud; utilizing the card in an unlawful manner; any person
who refuse to accept, acknowledge or recognize the Filipino ID card as the only official
identification of the owner; any public official or employee who connives with the offender, causes
the issuance of an unauthorized Filipino ID card, or approves the application despite the knowledge
of the existence of fraud or false information.
Under this proposed measure, Filipinos get to renew their ID free of charge when they reach the
age of 60.
⁲ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
House Bill No. 523
AKO Bicol Party-List Reps. Rodel M. Batocabe and Christopher S. Co, authored House
Bill 523 to institutionalize a national identification card that will replace the current practice of
requiring at least two valid government issued IDs when transacting business with different
agencies in the country.
The measure also known as the “Filipino Identification System Act,” shall provide official
identification of all citizens of the Republic of the Philippines and gradually concert and
consolidate all existing government-initiated identification systems into one integrated and
efficient identification system.
Under the measure, 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.
The ID card may be replaced only when a child reaches the legal age of 18 years old; 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, for lost or destroyed, for other revisions that
may deemed necessary by the cardholder such as changes in the facial features due to age or
medical intervention.
The proposed ID card shall be honored in transactions requiring the identity, status, birth and all
other personal circumstances, including application for passport, driver’s license; applications for
any services and benefits offered by the Government Services Insurance System (GSIS), the Social
Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF); and National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI), courts, prosecutor and the police clearances.
Likewise, the ID card can also be used as proof of identity, status, age and address for admission
in all learning institutions as well as for employment; for voting identification; availment of
benefits afforded by law to senior citizens; and for banking and financial institution.
Violations are punishable by law, such as false information in applying for the issuance of the ID
card or acquiring through fraud; refusing to accept or acknowledge the ID as the only official
identification of the owner, any public official or employee who connives with the offender,
causing the issuance of an unauthorized ID card or approves the application despite the knowledge
of the existence of fraud or false information.
⁲ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
Violators shall be punished with a fine of not more than P500,000 or imprisonment of not more
than two years or both, at the discretion of the court.
House Bill No. 696

Former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has filed a bill that seeks
to consolidate all existing government-initiated identification systems into one integrated and
efficient Filipino ID system.
Under House Bill No. 696, Arroyo said having a Filipino ID system will streamline, integrate and
simplify public and private transactions in the country. ⁶
“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
(some) circumstances,”(Arroyo, 2016).
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 proposed law tasks the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) with overseeing the ID
registration through the Local Civil Registry Office and ensuring that all Filipinos, including
indigenous peoples and those in the remote communities, are issued a card.
The card, which will be made of tamper-proof security material, shall store at least the biometric
data of the cardholder and shall also bear the owner's photograph, name, birth date, gender, date
of issue, and signature. ⁷
⁲ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
Senate Bill No. 95
Proposed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, to be known as “Filipino Identification System”
bill, seeks to consolidate all other identification systems into one.
Proposed as it would serve as the identification of all citizens of the country whether residing in
the Philippines or abroad.
“Ultimately, this measure would help the government deliver better services to the people. Having
a national ID system would be helpful in our anti-crime and anti-terror campaign,” Trillanes said.
“By having a centralized database, we would have easy access to information about suspects,
fugitives and other lawless elements. Further, this would reduce leakage in providing social
services to the people, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” he said.
The Filipino ID shall be made of tamper-proof security material. It shall have on its face the
imprinted photograph, name, birth date, sex, date of issue, signature of owner, the corresponding
individual serial number issued by the PSA and other relevant data.
The Filipino ID shall also have the capability to store at least the biometric data of the individual
cardholder. ⁸
The initial application for and issuance of the Filipino ID shall be free of charge as part of the
government social service responsibility. However, a replacement fee shall be paid by the
cardholder.
⁲ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
After more than a decade after its first filing, the implementation to establish a National
Identification Card/ System in the Philippines for Filipinos in the country and abroad is now
under study by the current administration.
Based on the above- mentioned house bills, the Filipino Card or the National Identification
Card shall be used primarily to consolidate all other government- issued identification cards into
one integrated identification card in order to sufficiently and easily provide efficient services to all
Filipinos whether residing in the country or abroad. And will further eliminate red tapes in the
government that hinders the provision of services by eliminating redundancies and simplifying
processes involved in the public and private sectors (Trillanes, 2016).
The system will provide for a single card sufficient for all transactions requiring proof of
identification whether governmental or private sectors. To address privacy issues in
institutionalizing a national identification system, this bill provides for safeguards on the use of
the system. Among others, it is prohibited for any person to publish, disseminate or give to third
parties or entities information obtained in the connection with the application for the identification
with a few exceptions. It will lower the costs, streamline transactions, and provide ease and
convenience (Belmonte, 2016).
This bill seeks to streamline and integrate the issuance of identification cards in the
government to simplify the processes relative to public and private transactions of the citizens.
Moreover, the establishment of a unified identification system will enhance the integrity and
⁲ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
reliability of government- issued identification cards in private transactions and prevent violation
of laws involving false names and identifications (Arroyo, 2013).
1. http://www.southluzon.politics.com.ph/2016/11/15/pampanga-2nd-district-rep-arroyo-
wants-to-streamline-all-ph-govt-issued-ids/
2. http://www.update.ph/2016/11/national-id-system-pushed-in-congress/11024
3. http://dwdd.com.ph/2016/07/18/hb-523-establishment-of-filipino-id-system/
4. http://www.nenepimentel.org/index.php?do=view&page=bills&id=124
⁲ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.

National ID System Bills in Congress

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Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

House Bill No. 696

under study by the current administration.

processes involved in the public and private sectors (Trillanes, 2016).

identification whether governmental or private sectors. To address privacy issues in

convenience (Belmonte, 2016).

of laws involving false names and identifications (Arroyo, 2013).

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