Skip to content

RA 11057 - Personal Property Security Act (2018)

Philippine lawLegal status not independently verified

In brief

AI summary. Verify against the source below.

The Personal Property Security Act (RA 11057) creates a modern system for securing obligations with movable assets. It requires a written security agreement, registers a notice in a centralized electronic Registry, and sets rules for perfection, priority, and enforcement of security interests.

Who it affects: It applies to any person who grants or holds a security interest in personal property, except interests in aircraft or ships.

Key provisions

  • Scope of the Act. The law covers all transactions that use movable collateral to secure an obligation, except aircraft covered by RA 9497 and ships covered by PD 1521. [Section 4]
  • Creation of a security interest. A security interest is created only by a written security agreement signed by the parties; it can cover future property, but becomes effective only when the grantor actually obtains rights in that property. [Section 5]
  • Security agreement requirements. The security agreement must be in writing, signed by the parties, and may be in English or Filipino; the Department of Finance will provide model forms. [Section 6]
  • Description of collateral. The collateral description in the agreement or notice need only be sufficient to reasonably identify the property; generic terms like "all inventory" are acceptable. [Section 7]
  • Perfection of a security interest. A security interest is perfected when it is created and the creditor either registers a notice, takes possession of the collateral, or obtains control of a deposit account or investment property; perfection makes the interest effective against third parties. [Section 11, Section 12]
  • Control as a means of perfection. For deposit accounts and investment property, perfection can be achieved by a control agreement with the bank or intermediary, or by a notation in the issuer’s books for electronic securities. [Section 13]
  • Priority of security interests. Priority is determined by the time a notice is registered or the time perfection is achieved, not by the order of creation; special rules give higher priority to interests perfected by control or possession of certificates. [Section 17, Section 18]
  • Purchase‑money security interest (PMSI) priority. A PMSI in equipment, consumer goods, inventory, intellectual property or livestock gets priority over conflicting interests if the creditor registers a notice within three business days after the grantor obtains possession (or gives written notice to the holder of the conflicting interest). [Section 23]
  • Notice registration and effectiveness. An initial notice must identify the grantor, creditor, address, and collateral; it becomes effective when it appears in the Registry and remains effective for the term stated unless a continuation notice is filed. [Section 28, Section 30]
  • Amendment or termination of a notice. A secured creditor may file an amendment notice to change collateral or add a grantor, and may file a termination notice to end the notice’s effectiveness; the amendment or termination is effective only for the creditor(s) who authorized it. [Section 32, Section 34]

Common questions

What is a security interest under the Personal Property Security Act?
It is a property right in personal collateral that secures payment or performance of an obligation, regardless of how the parties label it. [Section 3(k)]
How is a security interest created?
By executing a written security agreement signed by the grantor and secured creditor; the agreement may cover future property, but the interest arises only when the grantor actually obtains rights in that property. [Section 5, Section 6]
What are the ways to perfect a security interest?
Perfection can be achieved by (a) registering a notice in the electronic Registry, (b) taking possession of the collateral, or (c) obtaining control of a deposit account or investment property. [Section 12]
How is priority among competing security interests determined?
Priority is based on the earlier of (i) the date a notice is registered or (ii) the date perfection is achieved by possession or control, regardless of when the interests were created. [Section 17]
What special priority does a purchase‑money security interest have?
A purchase‑money security interest gets priority over other conflicting interests if the creditor registers a notice within three business days after the grantor receives possession of the goods (or gives written notice to the holder of the conflicting interest for inventory, livestock, or intellectual property). [Section 23]
Can a grantor change or cancel a registered notice?
Yes. The grantor may demand the secured creditor file an amendment or termination notice; the creditor must file the requested notice within fifteen working days, or the grantor may seek a court order to compel it. [Section 39, Section 40, Section 41]
What right does a debtor have to redeem the collateral after default?
The debtor may redeem the collateral by paying the full secured obligation plus reasonable enforcement costs, unless the debtor has waived redemption in writing, the collateral has already been sold, or the creditor has retained the collateral. [Section 45]
Where can I search for registered security interests?
Anyone may search the electronic Registry administered by the Land Registration Authority; the Registry will provide the notice number, registration date and time, and full notice details, and can issue a certified report. [Section 27, Section 36]

Legal information, not legal advice

Tatsulok checks that this text faithfully reproduces its published source, but Tatsulok is not an official publisher and does not independently verify whether the text is currently in force, amended, or repealed. Always confirm against an official source, such as the Official Gazette or the issuing government authority, before relying on it. This is legal information for study, not legal advice. For your situation, consult a lawyer or Philippine legal aid.