Philippine Laws And Jurisprudence On Electronic Signatures

There has been a notable increase in the use of electronic signatures for various transactions during the imposition of quarantine restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Electronic signatures have been expressly recognized for more than two decades in the Philippines. The Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (E-Commerce Act) in the Philippines provides recognition for electronic documents and electronic signatures in accordance with its provisions, and expressly states that an "electronic signature on the electronic document shall be equivalent to the signature of a person on a written document".

This law emphasizes the vital role of information and communications technology in nationbuilding, and aims to facilitate domestic and international dealings, transactions, and contracts through the utilization of electronic technology, to recognize the authenticity and reliability of electronic messages or electronic documents related to such activities, and to promote