AFTER several failed attempts in the past decades, the bill that will establish the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) or National ID was ratified by the House of Representatives in May 2018 and is just waiting for the signature by President Rodrigo R. Duterte for it to become a law.
A national ID had always been opposed by militants and are eyed with wariness by some who do not trust the security measures of the government. Their common concern is about privacy. But many can only heave a sigh of relief as being burdened by too many government identification cards makes it difficult for the citizens.
The law seeks to simplify public and private transactions as this will become the one ID for all. Being the ID for all, it will also be the database for everyone.
Once it is signed into law, all Filipino citizens will be required to register in the PhilSys, while those born after the law will be registered upon birth. Each one will be given a PhilSys Number (PSN), which will become the person's unique and permanent identification number. This ID and the PSN can be used when transacting with government, whether national or local, and the private sector.
As provided, the ID will be used for: Applying for social welfare and benefits; Applying for services offered by the GSIS, SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-Ibig, and other government agencies; Applying for passport and driver’s licenses; Tax-related transactions; Registration and voting identification purposes; Applying for schools, colleges, universities, and other learning institutions; Applying for employment and other related transactions; Opening bank accounts and other transactions with banks and financial institutions; Verifying criminal records and clearances; and Other transactions defined in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
This will contain the person's full name, sex, date of birth, blood type, address, and citizenship. While registering for the ID will require biometric information including front-facing photograph, full set of fingerprints, and iris scan. Marital status, mobile numbers, and email addresses are optional.
Well and good. Now, this early, we are calling on government to make sure that those who have the least are made aware and assisted in getting this. Just go up the boondocks and you will realize that residents there barely have a Philhealth ID, much less any other government ID.
Just over here in slum areas, many have no birth certificates, meaning, they were not registered at birth.
This will require dedicated service especially by the LGUs and social workers of government to ensure that those who are barely aware of their rights, much less what they need to have, are addressed, regularly, and consistently. We can't allow them to fall through the slats and be deprived of a legal identity.