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Legal Validity and Risk Assessment of Digital Signatures for Engineering Approvals in the Philippines
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Legal Aspects of Engineering Management
Abstract
The increasing digitalization of engineering workflows has accelerated the use of digital signatures for approving plans, reports, and certifications. While digital signatures promise efficiency, traceability, and improved document control, their legal validity and associated risks remain a concern for engineering professionals, particularly in safety-critical and regulated environments. This study examines the legal, technical, and organizational dimensions of digital signature use in engineering approvals in the Philippines. Using an integrative literature review, the paper analyzes Republic Act No. 8792 (Electronic Commerce Act of 2000), international standards such as the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures, and technical and cybersecurity literature related to cryptographic signing mechanisms. Findings indicate that digital signatures are legally valid when reliability requirements?identity authentication, integrity assurance, and signer control?are satisfied. However, risks related to key management, cybersecurity threats, inconsistent regulatory acceptance, and weak organizational governance persist. The study proposes a compliance-oriented digital signature framework tailored to engineering workflows, emphasizing governance, security controls, and long-term validation. The paper concludes that digital signatures can support professional accountability and legal defensibility when embedded within structured, risk-aware engineering management systems.
Keywords
Digital Signatures, Engineering Approvals, RA 8792, Cybersecurity, Document Integrity, Non-Repudiation
References
[1] Cryptomathic. (2022, January 21). Managing risks in cryptographic key management. https://www.cryptomathic.com/blog/cryptograp hic-key-management-the-risks-and-mitigations
[2] eSignWS. (2025, March 17). What are the risks of using eSignatures? https://esign- blog.dmsworkspace.com/2025/03/17/what-are- the-risks-of-using-esignatures/
[3] Koonthamattam, L. (2024, May 21). How to overcome vulnerabilities in digital signatures. CybelAngel. https://cybelangel.com/blog/digital-signatures- are-the-cybersecurity-vulnerability-you-need-to- stop-ignoring/
[4] OWASP. (n.d.). Key management cheat sheet. OWASP Cheat Sheet Series. https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/
[5] Republic Act No. 8792, Electronic Commerce Act of 2000. (2000). Republic of the Philippines. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2000/ra_87 92_2000.html
[6] United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. (2002). UNCITRAL model law on electronic signatures with guide to enactment 2001. United Nations. https://uncitral.un.org/sites/uncitral.un.org/files/ media-documents/uncitral/en/ml-elecsig-e.pdf
How to cite this paper
@article{1713531,
author = {Rachelle Ann M. Francisco, Marvin O. Mallari},
title = {Legal Validity and Risk Assessment of Digital Signatures for Engineering Approvals in the Philippines},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {9},
number = {7},
pages = {869-876},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1713531.pdf},
abstract = {The increasing digitalization of engineering workflows has accelerated the use of digital signatures for approving plans, reports, and certifications. While digital signatures promise efficiency, traceability, and improved document control, their legal validity and associated risks remain a concern for engineering professionals, particularly in safety-critical and regulated environments. This study examines the legal, technical, and organizational dimensions of digital signature use in engineering approvals in the Philippines. Using an integrative literature review, the paper analyzes Republic Act No. 8792 (Electronic Commerce Act of 2000), international standards such as the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures, and technical and cybersecurity literature related to cryptographic signing mechanisms. Findings indicate that digital signatures are legally valid when reliability requirements?identity authentication, integrity assurance, and signer control?are satisfied. However, risks related to key management, cybersecurity threats, inconsistent regulatory acceptance, and weak organizational governance persist. The study proposes a compliance-oriented digital signature framework tailored to engineering workflows, emphasizing governance, security controls, and long-term validation. The paper concludes that digital signatures can support professional accountability and legal defensibility when embedded within structured, risk-aware engineering management systems.},
keywords = {Digital Signatures, Engineering Approvals, RA 8792, Cybersecurity, Document Integrity, Non-Repudiation},
month = {January},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I7-1713531}
}