THE signing into law of Republic Act 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act last Aug. 6 is seen to simplify public and private transactions.

But some privacy experts fear of possible breach of personal data since, apart from acquiring the most basic personal information, certain provision in the bill called “record history” aims to collect the individual’s detailed transaction history over an extended period.

In yesterday’s public hearing on the new law’s implementing rules and regulations, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) allayed fears on possible invasion of one’s data privacy.

Lawyer Rose Ann Tecio, PSA legal service officer, assured the public that the National Government is doing everything it can so the national ID system would not be abused or used by any unscrupulous individual.

“We don’t have access to the central database,” Tecio told participants of the forum in Golden Peak Hotel in Cebu City.

The new law seeks to create a single national ID system for all Filipino citizens and Philippine resident aliens to simplify applications for driver’s license, passport, tax-related transactions, voter’s registration, application to schools, and bank transactions.

The new law also seeks to eliminate the need to present other forms of identification when transacting with the government and private sector, subject to appropriate authentication measures based on a biometric identification system.

The system also intends to promote seamless service delivery, improve administrative governance, reduce corruption, strengthen financial inclusion, and promote ease of doing business. (GMD)