Government Identification Digitization Act of 2025

Office of the Serdarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) 25 SEP -2 A10:01 SENATE man. 10 S. No. 1322 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT ALLOWING THE USE OF DIGITAL COPY OF IDENTIFICATION CARDS IN GOVERNMENT TRANSACTIONS EXPLANATORY NOTE Identification Cards (ID) are an essential part of Filipinos daily transactional activities. 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 require 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 current technology allows immediate presentation and/or verification of a person's ID thru photos or scanned digital copy stored in digital devices. As daily transactions already allow digital payments, it is only sensible that digital copies of IDs should be allowed in government transactions. This practice is already welcomed by the use of digital vaccination cards during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continuous practice of such would immensely ease the conduct of government transactions. Thus, this bill seeks to allow the acceptance of digital copies of IDs in all government transactions, except to those with international application. It will also require agencies issuing IDs to provide an electronic mark to the physical IDs in order

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

Splate Wffiee of the Decretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 SEP -2 A10:01, SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1322 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:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Government

Identification Digitization Act of 2025. "

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

recognize the vital role of technology in pursuit of national development and progress. The State hereby adopts a policy to create and sustain a digitally integrated 6 government that provides responsive and efficient digital transactions in the government.

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 have an international application.

Sec. 4. Digitization of Government IDs. - All Government-issued IDs that are

subject to new registration or renewal application shall inscribe an electronic mark that can be read by the concerned Government System when a digital copy of an ID is presented. These IDs shall contain the required information provided by the applicant during registration and/or application.

Sec. 5. Effect of Digitization. - The physical copy of the Government ID that

bears an official electronic mark is no longer required to be presented in any 18 government transaction. It shall be sufficient that a digital copy of the said ID is

presented and the electronic mark therein is authenticated by the system used by the concerned government office for the said transaction to be authorized.

Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of

this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations of the year following its enactment into law.

Sec 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Information

and Communication Technology (DICT) and all government Offices issuing government IDs to the public shall issue the implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) calendar days from the effectivity hereof for the proper implementation of this Act.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part, portion, or provision of this Act is

declared unconstitutional or invalid, the portions or provisions which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,

implementing rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. Approved,