PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Camilo Cascolan re-assured the public Tuesday, October 13, that there is nothing to be afraid of in the implementation of the National Identification System.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) targets to conduct the registration under the Philippine Identification System (Philsys) initially in 32 provinces that are considered low-risk areas for coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The registration of the National ID system started on Monday, October 12, in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental and Tawi-Tawi.
For Metro Manila, registration is targeted to start by next year.
“If you are a good citizen, you have nothing to be afraid of. If you are doing anything that is right, you are following rules and regulations,” Cascolan said in a press conference.
“For the PNP, if you are not violating any rule of law or any violation of human rights, it will [be] good for you, it will be good for everybody. Tandaan niyo lang siyempre yung karamihan ng natatakot diyan yan yung mga gumagawa ng masama. Yun lang naman,” he added.
Cascolan said he ordered police commanders to provide assistance to the PSA and the local government units to ensure peace and order, as well as the observance of the health protocols to stop the further spread of coronavirus.
“The regional directors have been already directed to occupy these centers so that we would be able to assist, 32 all in all. It will depend of course on the deployment of regional directors depending on the (polling) tradition of the place and at the same time the gravity of the peace and order. If it is peaceful, not so much but we will always be there,” he said.
The PSA has hired at least 5,000 individuals to interview and collect data from the target households.
The government aims to issue a national ID to 92 million Filipinos by June 2022.
The National ID System, which was signed into a law in 2018, aims to provide each of the 92 million Filipinos by June 2022 a unique number and an ID card in a move to make it easier for them, particularly the poor, to have access to the banking system and other services. (SunStar Philippines)