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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Sulu launches own ID system
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Provincial Government of Sulu has launched its own citizen identification (ID) system aimed at deterring terrorism, curbing crimes, and serving as a database for local census, officials said Monday.
Sulu Governor Sakur Tan said the provincial ID system was launched over the weekend in the town of Patikul, whose population now is more than 50,000.
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"We are going to issue identification cards in all towns and we have the support of the local government officials and the citizens themselves," Tan said.
Sulu, one of six provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), has 19 towns: Hadji Panglima Tahil, Indanan, Jolo, Kalingalang Caluang, Lugus, Luuk, Maimbung, Panamao, Omar, Pandami, Panglima Estino, Pangutaran, Parang, Pata, Siasi, Talipao, Tapul, Tongkil, and Patikul.
Patikul Mayor Kabir Hayudini said his town would serve as a model for the implementation of the citizen identification card in other areas in the province of Sulu, located south of Zamboanga City.
"The people are really very supportive of the ID system and that's why we have Patikul as model for this citizen identification card system in cooperation with the Sulu Provincial Government, military and police authorities, and the national census (office)," Hayudini told reporters.
He added that those who would be covered by the ID system are citizens 12 years old above.
Tan said the Provincial Government shouldered all expenses needed for the ID system.
Tan said the implementation of the ID system in his province is a collaborative effort between the local government units, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and other stakeholders of peace and development in the province.
"The ID system will deter crimes and prevent terrorism because it would be easy to identify those who are not from Sulu and this will protect the citizens. It will also be beneficial for business and other transactions," he said.
Military troops deployed in the province of Sulu are continuously pursuing the remaining leaders and members of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Tan said the local ID system is not part of the proposed national ID system.
"This is our initiative and while politicians and other groups in Manila argue about the national ID system, my province is already implementing our own citizen identification card system. This will also establish an accurate census in Sulu," he said.
A census is an enumeration of all the people of a village or a systematic and complete count of all who are living in specified places.
The Patikul ID system includes a photo of the holder and the following information -- the date and place of birth, civil status, blood type, age, address, thumbprints, and sex among others.
Provincial mayors and Muslim religious leaders and business groups lauded the ID system in Sulu province.
The launching of the ID system in Sulu coincided with the closing of the two-day peace caravan joined by thousands of residents of the province.
The caravan was a collaborative effort of government agencies and various non-government agencies to address the immediate health, education, and livelihood needs of communities affected by conflict.
Tan said the caravan, which began on Friday in the town of Jolo -- the province's capital -- went around Patikul and Kalingalang Caluang towns, scene of previous clashes between rebels and soldiers.
The caravan was also aimed at consulting with the communities on their medium and long-term concerns particularly on livelihood and employment as well as providing a humanitarian face to the ongoing conflict in Sulu.
Tan said the caravan provided several millions of pesos in aid to Sulu's peace and development.
He said the Department of Education (DepEd) also pledged to send at least 15 tons of assorted books to different government schools in the province. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (January 22, 2008 issue)
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