Grab Philippines has expressed full support for government efforts to provide delivery riders with PhilSys IDs (PhilIDs) saying it would work with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure that all their delivery riders secure their national IDs in order for them to take advantage of their many benefits.
In a statement, Grab Philippines Director for Public Affairs Atty. Sherielysse Bonifacio said, ”The company wants to do its part to help the government in its national ID registration drive as it recognizes how this can benefit our delivery-partners.”
“The national IDs provide our delivery-partners with more than just a reliable means of identification; it will also make it easier for them to avail of government services and benefits,” said Bonifacio.
Earlier this week, the DTI together with the PSA launched the Institutional PhilSys Registration of Delivery-Riders, a program that Deputy National Statistician Fred S. Sollesta said “is aligned with PSA’s mission to prioritize the registration of beneficiaries of various government social protection program in support to this Administration’s 8-point economic agenda that aims to promote business-friendly environment, boost competitiveness and address poverty and equality.”
To realize the full potential of PhilSys, Sollesta highly encourage its partners to also integrate with Philsys and take advantage of the various authentication services that PSA will be developing. “This will allow our delivery riders to enjoy the conveniences and benefits of having a digital ID,” said Solleta.
DTI Assistant Secretary Mary Jean T. Pacheco explained that the roll out of the national ID system is one of the critical components in the DTI’s e-commerce roadmap.
Included among the strategies in the DTI e-commerce roadmap is the hastening of e-government initiatives across the e-commerce system. The two priorities listed under the strategy are to “promote streamlining and automation in government and a pleasant user experience on online public services” and to “fast-track the implementation of the Philippine Identification System.”
Bonifacio stressed that “as the developer of a super app––a platform used by commuters, consumers and e-commerce merchants––Grab knows firsthand how technology and innovation can help contribute to the growth of the Philippine digital economy, which is why we are bullish about the future.”
Data from the PSA shows that as of March 31, 77.97 million Filipinos have already registered for the PhilIDs. The figure represents 84.7 percent of PSA’s target.