Senate Office of the Secrelary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES APR 14 P1:07 First Regular Session S. No. - SO M2042 RECEIVED BY: Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT MANDATING THE AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION FOR MILITARY INSTRUCTION OF ALL CITIZENS BETWEEN THE AGES OF EIGHTEEN (18) AND TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CITIZEN ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES RESERVIST ACT" EXPLANATORY NOTE The 1987 Constitution explicitly provides that "The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people. The Government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to render personal, military or civil service." Consistent with this constitutional mandate, Republic Act No. 7077 establishes the framework for the development of a Citizen Armed Force capable of responding to the needs of national defense. In particular, Section 4 underscores ensuring the readiness of citizens to render personal military and civil service, and Section 6 provides that the manpower of the Citizen Armed Force shall be responsive to actual national requirements without maintaining a standing force beyond what is necessary. At a time when the Philippines faces evolving national security challenges, including territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, increasing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, cybersecurity threats, and the growing frequency of climate- related disasters requiring civil defense mobilization, it is imperative to ensure a more reliable, inclusive, and efficient system of registering citizens for potential service.
This measure seeks to modernize the system of military registration and training by establishing an automatic and continuous military registration system by utilizing existing government databases to ensure comprehensive coverage of eligible citizens. In doing so, the bill aims to operationalize the constitutional directive and the policy objectives embodied in Republic Act No. 7077 in a manner that is both efficient and responsive to present-day realities. By strengthening the integrity of the reservist registry while minimizing administrative barriers, this measure enhances the State's capacity to call upon its citizens when necessary, consistent with democratic principles and the rule of law. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought. ROBINHOOD PADILLA Senator
Offier of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES APR 14 P1:07 First Regular Session SENA 2042 RECEIVED BY: S. No. - Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT MANDATING THE AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION FOR MILITARY INSTRUCTION OF ALL CITIZENS BETWEEN THE AGES OF EIGHTEEN (18) AND TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7077, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CITIZEN ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES RESERVIST ACT" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7077, otherwise known as the
"Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act" is hereby amended to read as 3 follows: "SEC. 14. Compulsory Military Registration and Training. - All Emale] citizens between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-five (25) years who are not reservists shall be required to register for military instruction. Registration shall take place in suitable registration places to be prescribed by the city or municipal government between the dates of April First and Seventh commencing one (1) year after the effectivity of this Act. Biennial registrations shall be held during the same period in succeeding years.] SHALL BE AUTOMATIC AND CONTINUOUS, AND SHALL PRIMARILY BE EFFECTED BY UTILIZING DATA FROM THE PHILIPPINE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (PHILSYS). FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE (DND), IN COORDINATION WITH THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA), SHALL ESTABLISH A SECURE AND
INTEROPERABLE SYSTEM FOR THE AUTOMATIC EXTRACTION, VALIDATION, AND UPDATING OF RELEVANT REGISTRATION DATA, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE DATA PRIVACY LAWS. TO ENSURE COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY, THE DND MAY FURTHER INTEGRATE RECORDS FROM OTHER RELEVANT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE, AND SUCH OTHER AGENCIES AS IT MAY DEEM NECESSARY. UPON REACHING THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN (18), CITIZENS SHALL BE DEMEED REGISTERED WITHOUT NEED OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE OR MANUAL APPLICATION: PROVIDED, THAT MECHANISMS SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOR: A) NOTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION THROUGH REGISTERED MAIL, ELECTRONIC MAIL, OR OTHER APPROPRIATE MEANS; B) VERIFICATION, CORRECTION, AND UPDATING OF PERSONAL DATA BY THE REGISTRANT; AND C) PROPER CLASSIFICATION FOR TRAINING, RESERVE SERVICE, OR OTHER FORMS OF NATIONAL SERVICE. THE DND SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL DATA COLLECTION, SHARING, AND PROCESSING UNDER THIS ACT SHALL COMPLY WITH REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11055, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM ACT", REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10173, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "DATA PRIVACY ACT OF 2012", AND OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS."
SEC. 2. Section 22 of the Republic Act No. 7077 is hereby amended to read as
follows: "SEC 22. Registration of Citizens Residing or Working Abroad. - Filipino citizens residing or working abroad, when they become liable to register for
reservists' training under this Act, shall register with the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the Republic of the Philippines which shall transmit the registrants' data to the Secretary of National Defense. LIKEWISE BE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 14 HEREOF. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE DND, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA) AND THE PSA, SHALL ENSURE THE INTEGRATION OF RELEVANT DATA FROM THE PHILSYS, PASSPORT RECORDS, AND OTHER AVAILABLE GOVERNMENT DATABASES TO FACILITATE THE IDENTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION OF QUALIFIED CITIZENS ABROAD. PHILIPPINE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR OFFICES SHALL ASSIST IN THE VERIFICATION, UPDATING, AND CORRECTION OF REGISTRATION RECORDS, AND SHALL PROVIDE APPROPRIATE NOTIFICATION TO CONCERNED CITIZENS THROUGH AVAILABLE MEANS. NO PERSONAL APPEARANCE OR MANUAL REGISTRATION SHALL BE REQUIRED: PROVIDED, THAT MECHANISMS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR CITIZENS ABROAD TO ACCESS, CONFIRM, AND UPDATE THEIR REGISTRATION INFORMATION THROUGH SECURE DIGITAL OR CONSULAR CHANNELS."
SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DND, PSA, DFA, the Armed
Forces of the Philippines, and other relevant agencies, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder hereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, presidential decrees, executive
29 orders, letters of instruction, proclamations, administrative orders, rules or regulations
that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 2 accordingly.
Sec. 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
4 following its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,