National ID System Law Pass Second Reading

(PNA) — House Bill (HB) Numbered 5060 or the “Filipino Identification System Act” co-authored by Baguio City Representative Aliping was approved on second reading.

Aliping on May 22 said copies of the amendments on the National ID system have been distributed, ready for third and final reading.

“The National ID card will help speed up government and other official transactions in lieu of other government IDs”, Aliping said.

The bill will “institutionalize a national information card for all Filipinos that would ensure facilitation and streamline government transactions, and help promote a progressive society through an efficient delivery of basic services”, Aliping added.

”The bill shall gradually consolidate all existing government initiated identification system into one integrated and efficient identification system”, he said.

Aliping noted that there are many Filipinos who have no official IDs and it is a hindrance in doing official transactions.

”Many official IDs need to be registered yearly but Section 4 of HB 5060 provides that every Filipino, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad is mandated to register personal information required by the ID system and upon application shall be issued a non-transferable Filipino ID card with an ID number that shall be valid for life,” Aliping said.

“The National ID system will be the official ID card a Filipino must have, government and private establishments shall be mandated to honor it.”

Under the measure, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs are the implementing agencies of the program tasked to create and maintain a Filipino Citizen Registry (FCR). (PNA) CTB/JB/EDS