The House of Representatives of the Philippines approved House Bill No. 8468 on second reading on Wednesday. The proposed measure aims to create a nationwide digital payments system for transactions with the government and between private groups.
The bill seeks to expand the use of digital payments in the country. If passed into law, it will support more online and app-based payment options across different sectors.
During discussions, Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers Party-list raised concerns about data privacy and system security. Tinio said the bill does not clearly state who can access transaction data once digital payments become more common.
He compared the proposal with the country’s bank secrecy rules, which strictly limit access to bank account information unless allowed by law or a court order. Tinio also warned about metadata, such as transaction time, frequency, and people involved in payments. According to him, this type of data could reveal personal behavior or relationships if not properly protected.
Tinio also pointed out concerns about a digital divide, saying some people may not have access to smartphones or stable internet. He added that the bill may allow payment providers to charge transaction fees, even for small payments.
Meanwhile, bill sponsor Irwin Tieng said existing rules from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and current data privacy laws already provide protection for users.
House Bill 8468 still needs approval on third and final reading before it can move forward in the legislative process.
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