President Marcos Jr. wants the distribution of the national identification (ID) cards expedited so more Filipinos can use it by early next year.
Marcos on Wednesday virtually met with Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, Socioeconomic Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secretary Maria Zenaida Angping on the issue of the national ID.
The Philippine System Identification Act (PhilSys Act) was signed into law in 2018 which mandated the creation of a single official identification card and single national identification number for all citizens that they can use in all their transactions.
Meanwhile, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte yesterday urged the Philippine Statistics Office (PSA) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to expedite PhilSys amid complaints over the delays in the production and distribution of the physical Philsys cards, with many waiting for more than six months to have these delivered.
The PSA is the chief implementor of the Philsys project, while the BSP is in charge of producing the physical ID cards, which will then be turned over to the Philippine Postal Corp. for delivery.
Citing reports, Duterte said the PSA has registered 74 percent or 68.3 million national ID applicants out of its 92 million target as of June 30.
Out of this number, only 13.86 million physical cards have been delivered.
Duterte said a PSA plan to issue printable versions of the national ID with a corresponding mobile ID that can be accessed through the Philsys app could be a step in fast-tracking the full implementation of the project.
He said the project would help fight red tape, and hasten the delivery of basic services and financial aid to poor families.
Duterte added the national ID system will also complement the e-governance bill re-filed in the incoming 19th Congress that seeks to shift government transactions online.
He said the national ID will help “weed out ‘false’ beneficiaries from social protection programs, thus assisting the government in better targeting those who need financial aid the most during times of crisis.” J. Montemayor and W. Vigilia
