THE bicameral conference committee of the Senate and House of Representatives last May 21, 2018 approved the bill establishing the national identification system, gathering as one at least 33 different identification cards issued by various government agencies.
The bill implementing a national ID system is expected to be ratified by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday after the two chambers have reconciled conflicting provisions in their respective versions of the landmark measure.
Now, here's to hoping that private banking institutions will finally understand that unified identification systems by a government is indeed possible.
This is in reaction to the insistence of banking institutions for clients and new account applicants to present two government -issued ID cards, even when the ID card already presented is the Social Security System (SSS) Unified Multipurpose ID (UMID) that covers SSS, Government Service Insurance System, Philhealth transactions.
Go, try arguing with them and the tellers and new account clerks will just stare at you uncompromisingly as if it is their money that we are going to put in their care, and use.
Yes, we have been taken for a ride by these uncompromising banking institutions who are in the first place taking our money and using them while we are saving them.
In BSP Circular No. 608 dated May 20, 2008, it states: Pursuant to Monetary Board Resolution No. 553 dated 8 May 2008, the provisions of Circular No. 564 dated 3 April 2007 on the guidelines governing the acceptance of valid identification cards for all types of financial transactions by banks and non-banks financial institutions under BSP supervision, including financial transactions involving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), in order to promote access of Filipinos to services offered by formal financial institutions, particularly those residing in the remote areas, as well as to encourage and facilitate remittances of OFWs through the banking system, are hereby amended to read as follows: a) Clients who engage in a financial transaction with covered institutions for the first time shall be required to present the original and submit a CLEAR copy of at least ONE (1) valid photo-bearing identification document issued by an official authority.
FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE TERM “OFFICIAL AUTHORITY” SHALL REFER TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: (i) GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES; (ii) ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND INSTRUMENTALITIES; (iii) GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND/OR CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS (GOCCs); AND (iv) PRIVATE ENTITIES OR INSTITUTIONS REGISTERED WITH OR SUPERVISED OR REGULATED EITHER BY THE BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS (BSP) OR SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) OR INSURANCE COMMISSION (IC).
Now, if only banks will learn what real customer service is and not spring out that very convenient "know your customer" excuse and continue to demand two.