By Mario Casayuran
As the author of the Philippine System National Identification Act (PhilSys Act), Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said Wednesday he is certain the ID system is more incentive based rather than punitive in its intent and purpose.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)
‘’Having said that, more than the security and other similar considerations, this law is designed for the government to provide more efficient social services to our people, not to mention the convenience and ease that our people can transact business with government agencies as well as private entities,’’ Lacson said.
Once fully implemented, according to Lacson, the Filipino people would appreciate how easy and convenient it is for them to deal with their day-to-day activities.
Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said a “substantial” number of Filipinos would be registered for the initial run of the system which eyes to cover 107 million Filipinos by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term in 2022.
Panelo said the pilot-testing would run from September to December 2019 to register a substantial number of Filipinos nationwide.
He said that by the end of the President’s term in 2022, 107 million Filipinos are targeted to be registered.
President Duterte signed in August last year the PhilSys Act which paves the way for a national ID system.
The PhilSys Act mandates the government to create a single official identification card for all citizens and foreign residents that would serve as a de facto national identification number.
Under the law, the national ID shall contain a person’s Philippine Identification System number, full name, gender, blood type, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, address, and a front-facing photo.