NOW that President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the Philippine Identification System Act, which mandates the issuance of a single official identification card (ID) for all citizens and foreign residents that would serve as a de facto national identification number, critics said it infringes the citizen’s right to privacy.
But the government stressed the national ID is expected to improve efficiency and transparency in public services as well as promote ease of doing business.
The government also stressed the new law could address the country's problem on insurgency and criminality.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said armed conflicts and insurgencies are often rooted in poor governance and delivery of basic services.
“Having a national ID system in place will help government address the gaps in the identification of citizens entitled to receive government services, thereby making things more convenient for law-abiding Filipinos,” he said.
Lorenzana assured that individual privacy will be respected amid concerns that the national ID system may compromise one’s privacy due to the information it contains.
But is it?
The national ID system may be used not only against the criminals but also critics of the administration to silence them.
With the advent of technology these days, surveillance from the government is a possibility.
Among the information included in the ID system are the full name, sex, blood type, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, address and a front facing photo.
But again, the database with the public’s personal data can be abuse and misuse. A possible breach of security is also a concern.
A violation of one’s privacy is a human rights abuse.
Is the country really equipped to handle and maintain such an advanced system?