Last modified 20 January 2025

Data Protection in the Philippines

Online privacy in the Philippines

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Law

Data protection laws in the Philippines

The Data Privacy Act of 2012 (“Act” or “DPA”) or Republic Act No. 10173, which took effect on 8 September 2012, is the governing law on data privacy matters in the Philippines.

In 2022, two bills (House Bill No. 892 and House Bill No. 898) were filed in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, seeking to amend the DPA. The proposed amendments under House Bill No. 892 broadly include:

Increasing the penalties (both the period of imprisonment and monetary fines) for violations of the DPA; and
Providing for perpetual absolute disqualification as a penalty for a public official or employee who violates provisions of the DPA.

On the other hand, the proposed amendments under House Bill No. 898 broadly include:

Defining biometric and genetic data.
Expanding the exclusions on the applicability of the DPA.
Redefining “sensitive personal information” to include biometric and genetic data, and labor affiliation. Clarifying the extraterritorial application of the DPA by specifying clear instances when the processing of personal data of Philippine citizens and / or residents is concerned.
Defining the digital age of consent to process personal information as more than fifteen (15) years, applicable where information society services are provided and offered directly to a child.
Including the performance of a contract as a new criterion of the lawful basis for processing of sensitive personal information.
Allowing Personal Information Controllers (“PIC”) outside of the Philippines to authorize Personal Information Processors (“PIP”) or any other third party in the country, in writing, to report data breaches to the National Privacy Commission (“NPC”) on behalf of the PIC.
Modifying criminal penalties under the DPA, giving the proper courts the option to impose either imprisonment or fine upon its sound judgment.

The said bill remains pending before the Philippine House of Representatives.

A further bill was filed in 2022 and is pending before the Philippine Senate (Senate No. 1367) likewise seeking to amend the DPA. Specifically, the bill seeks to exclude the applicability of the DPA to personal information and sensitive personal information that are necessary to address a health crisis during a period of a declared national emergency or pandemic.

In 2021, the Philippine House of Representatives approved a bill (House Bill No. 9651) proposing amendments to the DPA similar to that of House Bill No. 898. The said bill has been transmitted to the Philippine Senate for concurrence the same year but remain pending as of date.

Given the rigorous process of passing a law in the Philippines there are no indications that any of these pending bills will be passed into law within the next 12 months.

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Definitions

Definitions in the Philippines

Definition of personal information

Personal Information is defined in the Act as ‘any information whether recorded in a material form or not, from which the identity of an individual is apparent or can be reasonably and directly ascertained by the entity holding the information, or when put together with other information would directly and certainly identify an individual.’

The Act, in addition to defining ‘Personal Information’ that is covered by the law, also expressly excludes certain information from its coverage. These are:

information about any individual who is or was an officer or employee of a government institution that relates to the position or functions of the individual, including:

the fact that the individual is or was an officer or employee of the government institution;
the title, business address and office telephone number of the individual;
the classification, salary range and responsibilities of the position held by the individual; and
the name of the individual on a document prepared by the individual in the course of employment with the government.

information about an individual who is or was performing services under contract for a government institution that relates to the services performed, including the terms of the contract, and the name of the individual given in the course of the performance of those services;
information relating to any discretionary benefit of a financial nature such as the granting of a license or permit given by the government to an individual, including the name of the individual and the exact nature of the benefit;
Personal Information processed for journalistic, artistic, literary or research purposes (intended for a public benefit);
information necessary in order to carry out the functions of a public authority which includes the processing of personal data for the performance by the independent, central monetary authority and law enforcement and regulatory agencies of their constitutionally and statutorily mandated functions. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to have amended or repealed Republic Act No. 1405, otherwise known as the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Act; Republic Act No. 6426, otherwise known as the Foreign Currency Deposit Act; and Republic Act No. 9510, otherwise known as the Credit Information System Act ("CISA");
information necessary for banks and other financial institutions under the jurisdiction of the independent, central monetary authority or Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to comply with Republic Act No. 9510, and Republic Act No. 9160, as amended, otherwise known as the Anti-Money Laundering Act and other applicable laws; and
Personal Information originally collected from residents of foreign jurisdictions in accordance with the laws of those foreign jurisdictions, including any applicable data privacy laws, which is being processed in the Philippines.

Definition of sensitive personal information

"Sensitive Personal Information" is defined in the Act as Personal Information:

about an individual’s race, ethnic origin, marital status, age, color, and religious, philosophical or political affiliations;
about an individual’s health, education, genetic or sexual life of a person, or to any proceeding for any offence committed or alleged to have been committed by such person, the disposal of such proceedings, or the sentence of any court in such proceedings issued by government agencies peculiar to an individual which includes, but not limited to, social security numbers, previous or current health records, licenses or its denials, suspension or revocation, and tax returns, and specifically established by an executive order or an act of Congress to be kept classified.

Authority

National data protection authority in the Philippines

The National Privacy Commission (“NPC” or Commission) is an independent body mandated to administer and implement the Act, and to monitor and ensure compliance of the country with international standards set for personal data protection. The NPC was created in 2016 and the implementing rules and regulations of the Act took effect in the same year.

Registration

Registration in the Philippines

Data Protection Officer and Data Processing Systems

NPC Circular No. 2022-04 (effective January 2023) provides for mandatory registration of the Data Protection Officer (“DPO”) and the data processing systems (“DPS”) for PICs or PIPs that:

employ two hundred and fifty (250) or more persons;
process Sensitive Personal Information of one thousand (1,000) or more individuals; or
process data that will likely pose a risk to the rights and freedoms of data subjects.

Registration is done via the NPC’s online platform i.e. the NPC Registration System or NPCRS accessible here.

Entities that are not subject to mandatory registration may opt to voluntarily register their DPO and DPS.

A PIC or PIP who is not subject to mandatory registration and does not undertake voluntary registration shall submit a sworn declaration. The Commission, through an order, may require a PIC or PIP to submit supporting documents related to this submission.

A covered PIC or PIP shall register its newly implemented DPS or inaugural DPO in the NPCRS within twenty (20) days from the commencement of such system or the effective date of such appointment.

In the event that a covered PIC or PIP seeks to make minor amendments to its existing registration information, which include updates to an existing DPS, or a change in DPO, the PIC or PIP shall update the NPCRS within ten (10) days from the system update or effective date of the appointment of the new DPO. Major amendments, however, such as amendments to the name of the entity or the business address must be made within thirty (30) days from the effectiveness of the change.

A Certificate of Registration issued upon completion of the registration process shall be valid for one (1) year from its date of issue. The PIC / PIP must renew its registration within thirty (30) days before the expiration of the one-year validity period.

Beginning on 1 October 2024, all PICs and PIPs are required to pay the corresponding fees to register their DPS and / or renew said registration. The enhanced NPCRS will also facilitate the submission of the Sworn Declaration and Undertaking, a mandatory declaration for persons and entities that claim exemption from the NPC’s registration requirement.

PICs and PIPs are mandated to prominently display their NPC registration at the main entrance of their place of business and on their websites, if the PIC and PIP have an online presence.

Data protection officers

Data protection officers in the Philippines

The PIC of an organization must appoint a person or persons who shall be accountable for the organization’s compliance with the Act, and the identity of such person or persons must be disclosed to the data subjects upon the latter’s request. The implementing rules and regulations of the Act likewise require any natural or juridical person or other body involved in the processing of personal data to designate an individual or individuals who shall function as DPO, compliance officer or otherwise be accountable for ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations for the protection of data privacy and security. The Act does not specifically provide for the citizenship and residency of the DPO. The Act likewise does not specifically provide for penalties relating to the incorrect appointment of DPOs.

The NPC has published guidelines on the designation of the DPO.

Collection and processing

Collection and processing in the Philippines

The collection and processing of Personal Information must comply with the general principle that Personal Information must be:

collected for specified and legitimate purposes determined and declared before, or as soon as reasonably practicable after collection, and later processed in a way compatible with such declared, specified and legitimate purposes only;
processed fairly and lawfully;
accurate, relevant and, where necessary for purposes for which it is to be used the processing of Personal Information, kept up to date; inaccurate or incomplete data must be rectified, supplemented, destroyed or their further processing restricted;
adequate and not excessive in relation to the purposes for which they are collected and processed;
retained only for as long as necessary for the fulfillment of the purposes for which the data was obtained or for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims, or for legitimate business purposes, or as provided by law; and
kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the data were collected and processed:
- provided that Personal Information collected for other purposes may lie processed for historical, statistical or scientific purposes, and in cases laid down in law may be stored for longer periods, and
- provided, further, that adequate safeguards are guaranteed by said laws authorizing their processing.

In addition, the processing of Personal Information must meet the following criteria, otherwise, such processing becomes prohibited:

the data subject has given his or her consent;
the processing of Personal Information is necessary and is related to the fulfillment of a contract with the data subject or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract;
the processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the PIC is subject;
the processing is necessary to protect vitally important interests of the data subject, including life and health;
the processing is necessary in order to respond to national emergency, to comply with the requirements of public order and safety, or to fulfill functions of public authority which necessarily includes the processing of personal data for the fulfillment of its mandate; or
the processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the PIC or by a third party or parties to whom the data is disclosed, except where such interests are overridden by fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection under the Philippine Constitution.

The processing of Sensitive Personal Information is prohibited, except in the following cases:

the data subject has given his or her specific consent prior to the processing, or in the case of privileged information, all parties to the exchange have given their consent prior to processing;
the processing is provided for by existing laws and regulations, provided that such regulatory enactments guarantee the protection of the Sensitive Personal Information and the privileged information, and the consent of the data subjects is not required by law or regulation permitting the processing of the Sensitive Personal Information or the privileged information;
the processing is necessary to protect the life and health of the data subject or another person, and the data subject is not legally or physically able to express his or her consent prior to the processing;
the processing is necessary to achieve the lawful and non-commercial objectives of public organizations and their associations, provided:
- such processing is only confined and related to the bona fide members of these organizations or their associations;
- the Sensitive Personal Data are not transferred to third parties; and
- the consent of the data subject was obtained prior to processing.
the processing is necessary for purposes of medical treatment, is carried out by a medical practitioner or a medical treatment institution, and an adequate level of protection of Personal Information is ensured; or
the processing concerns such Personal Information as is necessary for the protection of lawful rights and interests of natural or legal persons in court proceedings, or the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims, or when provided to government or public authority.

In August 2024, the NPC issued guidelines on the processing of Sensitive Personal Information on the basis of being necessary for the protection of lawful rights and interests of natural or legal persons in court proceedings, or the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims, or when provided to government or public authority. In its Advisory, the NPC states that said processing of Sensitive Personal Information and privileged information is proper when any of the following requisites are met:

the processing is necessary for the protection of lawful rights and interests of natural or legal persons in court proceedings;
the processing is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims; or
the processing entails providing government or public authorities with personal data for the protection of lawful rights and interests in court proceedings or the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims in relation to their constitutional or statutory mandate. Such instances may include providing information that supports the investigation of a law enforcement or regulatory agency.

In December 2024, the NPC likewise issued guidelines on the applicability of the DPA, its implementing rules and regulations, and the issuance of the Commission to Artificial Intelligence systems processing Personal Data.

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Transfer

Transfer in the Philippines

Each PIC is responsible for Personal Information under its control or custody that have been transferred to a third party for processing, whether domestically or internationally, subject to cross-border arrangement and cooperation.

Transfers may involve either data sharing or outsourcing arrangements. “Data sharing” is the disclosure or transfer to a third party of Personal Information under the custody of a PIC or PIP. In the case of the latter, such disclosure or transfer must have been upon the instructions of the PIC concerned. The term excludes “outsourcing,” or the disclosure or transfer of personal data by a PIC to a PIP.

Data sharing and outsourcing arrangements must be undertaken in accordance with the requirements under the Act, which includes the execution of the appropriate agreements. The NPC has likewise issued a circular which provides guidelines on data sharing agreements, including the contents thereof.

In May 2024, the NPC issued guidelines on model contractual clauses that PICs and PIPs may include in binding legal agreements governing cross-border transfers of Personal Data.

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Security

Security in the Philippines

The PIC must implement reasonable and appropriate organizational, physical and technical measures to protect Personal Information against any type of accidental or unlawful destruction, such as from accidental loss, unlawful access, fraudulent misuse, unlawful destruction, alteration, contamination and disclosure, as well as against any other unlawful processing.

The determination of the appropriate level of security must take into account the nature of the Personal Information to be protected, the risks represented by the processing, the size of the organization and complexity of its operations, current data privacy best practices and the cost of security implementation.

In addition, the security measures to be implemented must include the following, which are subject to guidelines that the NPC may issue:

safeguards to protect its computer network against accidental, unlawful or unauthorized usage or interference with or hindering of their functioning or availability;
a security policy with respect to the processing of Personal Information;
a process for identifying and accessing reasonably foreseeable vulnerabilities in its computer networks, and for taking preventive, corrective and mitigating action against security incidents that can lead to a security breach; and
regular monitoring for security breaches and a process for taking preventive, corrective and mitigating action against security incidents that can lead to a security breach.

The PIC is obligated to ensure that third parties processing Personal Information on its behalf shall implement the security measures required by the Act.

The obligation to maintain strict confidentiality of Personal Information that are not intended for public disclosure extends to the employees, agents or representatives of a PIC who are involved in the processing of such Personal Information.

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Breach notification

Breach notification in the Philippines

The PIC is required to notify both the regulator (which is the NPC) and the affected data subjects within seventy-two (72) hours upon knowledge of, or when there is reasonable belief by the PIC or PIP that, a personal data breach requiring notification has occurred.

A security incident is treated as a reportable data breach if Sensitive Personal Information or other information has been acquired by an unauthorized person, and:

such Personal Information may, under the circumstances, be used to enable identity fraud; and
the PIC or the NPC believes that such unauthorized acquisition is likely to give rise to a real risk of serious harm to any affected data subject.

The notification shall at least describe the nature of the breach, the Sensitive Personal Information possibly involved, and the measures taken by the entity to address the breach. The notification shall also include measures taken to reduce the harm or negative consequences of the breach, the representatives of the PIC, including their contact details, from whom the data subject can obtain additional information about the breach, and any assistance to be provided to the affected data subjects.

Notification may be delayed only to the extent necessary to determine the scope of the breach, to prevent further disclosures, or to restore reasonable integrity to the information and communications system. The NPC may also authorize postponement of notification where such notification may hinder the progress of a criminal investigation related to a serious breach.

There can be no delay in the notification if the breach involves at least one hundred (100) data subjects, or the disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information will harm or adversely affect the data subject. In either case, the Commission must be notified within the 72-hour period based on available information.

The full report of the personal data breach must be submitted within five (5) days from notification, unless the PIC is granted additional time by the Commission to comply.

Notification is not required if the NPC determines:

that notification is unwarranted after taking into account compliance by the PIC with the Act and the existence of good faith in the acquisition of Personal Information; or
in the reasonable judgment of the NPC, such notification would not be in the public interest or in the interests of the affected data subjects.

In April 2022, the NPC launched the Data Breach Notification Management System (DBNMS), an interface that facilitates tracking and submission of personal data breach notifications and annual security incident reports.

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Enforcement

Enforcement in the Philippines

The NPC is responsible for ensuring compliance of the PIC with the Act. It has the power to receive complaints, institute investigations, facilitate or enable settlement of complaints through the use of alternative dispute resolution processes, adjudicate, award indemnity on matters affecting any Personal Information, prepare reports on disposition of complaints and resolution of any investigation it initiates, and, in cases it deems appropriate, publicize any such report. Additionally, the NPC can issue cease and desist orders, impose a temporary or permanent ban on the processing of Personal Information, upon finding that the processing will be detrimental to national security and public interest.

The NPC, however, cannot prosecute violators for breach of the Act for which criminal penalties can be imposed. The Department of Justice is tasked with the prosecution for violations of the Act that are punishable with criminal sanctions.

The following actions are punishable by the Act with imprisonment in varying duration plus a monetary penalty:

processing of Personal Information or Sensitive Personal Information:
- without the consent of the data subject or without being authorized by the Act or any existing law; or
- for purposes not authorized by the data subject or otherwise authorized under the Act or under existing laws;
providing access to Personal Information or Sensitive Personal Information due to negligence and without being authorized under this Act or any existing law;
knowingly or negligently disposing, discarding or abandoning the Personal Information or Sensitive Personal Information of an individual in an area accessible to the public or has otherwise placed the Personal Information of an individual in its container for trash collection;
knowingly and unlawfully, or violating data confidentiality and security data systems, breaking in any way into any system where Personal and Sensitive Personal Information is stored;
concealing the fact of such security breach, whether intentionally or by omission, after having knowledge of a security breach and of the obligation to notify the NPC pursuant to Section 20(f) of the Act;
disclosing by any PIC or PIP or any of its officials, employees or agents, to a third party Personal Information or Sensitive Personal Information without the consent of the data subject and without malice or bad faith; and
disclosing, with malice or in bad faith, by any PIC or PIP or any of its officials, employees or agents of unwarranted or false information relative to any Personal Information or Sensitive Personal Information obtained by him or her.

In August 2022, the NPC issued a Circular on Administrative Fines for data privacy infractions committed by PICs and PIPs.

In January 2024, the NPC amended certain provisions of its 2021 Rules of Procedure including:

clarifying the criteria for filing a complaint, introducing specific provisions for minors, individuals alleged to be incompetent, and non-resident citizens;
recognizing the service of judgments, orders, or resolutions issued by the NPC through electronic systems;
allowing for multiple parties to join or be joined as either complainants or respondents in one complaint;
institutionalizing videoconferencing technology as an alternative venue for mediation proceedings, enabling the remote appearance and testimony of parties beyond NPC premises;
introducing rules on compliance checks. These checks ascertain whether the activities by PICs and PIPs that involve the processing of personal data are carried out in accordance with the standards provided under the DPA, its implementing rules and regulations, and related issuances.

Electronic marketing

Electronic marketing in the Philippines

In 2008, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Health, and the Department of Agriculture issued a joint administrative order implementing the Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394) and the E-Commerce Act (Republic Act No. 8792). The Joint DTI-DOH-DA Administrative Order No. 01 (the ‘Administrative Order’) provides rules and regulations protecting consumers during online transactions, particularly on the purchase of products and services. It covers both local and foreign-based retailers and sellers engaged in e-commerce.

The Administrative Order particularly requires retailers, sellers, distributors, suppliers or manufacturers engaged in electronic commerce with consumers to refrain from engaging in any false, deceptive and misleading advertisement prohibited under the provisions of the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

In line with the Administrative Order’s provision on fair marketing and advertising practices, retailers, sellers, distributors, suppliers or manufacturers engaged in electronic commerce are mandated to provide:

fair, accurate, clear and easily accessible information describing the products or services offered for sale such as the nature, quality and quantity thereof;
fair, accurate, clear and easily accessible information sufficient to enable consumers to make an informed decision whether or not to enter into the transaction; and
such information that allows consumers to maintain an adequate record of the information about the products and services offered for sale.

A data subject must be provided with specific information regarding the processing of his personal data for direct marketing. In fact, the data subject shall have the right to object to the processing of his or her personal data, including processing for direct marketing.

In 2022, the NPC, together with other government agencies, issued Joint Administrative Order No. 2022-01 or the Guidelines for Online Businesses Reiterating the Laws and Regulations Applicable to Online Businesses and Consumers (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines define the responsibilities of online sellers, merchants, or e-retailers under the Act, and seeks to ensure privacy protection and transparency, legitimate purpose and proportionality in data collection and processing.

Online privacy

Online privacy in the Philippines

The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (“CPA”) is the first law in the Philippines which specifically criminalizes computer crimes. The law aims to address legal issues concerning online interactions. The CPA does not define, nor does it particularly refer to online privacy, however, it penalizes acts that violate an individual’s rights to online privacy, particularly those interferences against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and systems.

Section 4(c)(3) of the CPA, which provides that unsolicited commercial communications is generally a cybercrime offense punishable under the CPA, was struck down by the Supreme Court for violating the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression.

All data to be collected or seized or disclosed will require a court warrant. The court warrant shall only be issued or granted upon written application and the examination under oath or affirmation of the applicant and the witnesses he may produce showing that there are:

reasonable grounds to believe that any of the crimes penalized by the CPA has been committed, or is being committed, or is about to be committed;
reasonable grounds to believe that evidence that will be obtained is essential to the conviction of any person for, or to the solution of, or to the prevention of, any such crimes; and
no other means readily available for obtaining such evidence.

The integrity of traffic data shall be preserved for a minimum period of six months from the date of the transaction.

Courts may issue a warrant for the disclosure of traffic data if such disclosure is necessary and relevant for the purposes of investigation in relation to a valid complaint officially docketed.

No law in this jurisdiction currently deals with the subject of location data.

Philippine law, including the Act, presently do not define the term “cookies” nor regulate their use. The NPC, however, has opined that cookies, when combined with other pieces of information, may allow an individual to be distinguished from others and may, therefore, be considered as Personal Information. To the extent that cookies are considered as Personal information, the Act may be applicable and consent of the data subjects must be secured prior to (or as soon as practicable and reasonable) the collection and processing of Personal Information, subject to certain exceptions.

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Key contacts

Data protection lawyers in the Philippines

Catherine Beatrice O. King Kay

Partner

Romulo

Makati City

Email Full bio

reasonable grounds to believe that any of the crimes penalized by the CPA has been committed, or is being committed, or is about to be committed;
reasonable grounds to believe that evidence that will be obtained is essential to the conviction of any person for, or to the solution of, or to the prevention of, any such crimes; and
no other means readily available for obtaining such evidence.

No law in this jurisdiction currently deals with the subject of location data.

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Data Protection in the Philippines

Online privacy in the Philippines

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