by Sammy F. Martin, Philippine News Agency | Thursday, 23 June 2016
The proposed National Identification system can be of great help in curbing criminality under the Duterte administration.
Incoming House Speaker and Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon ‘Bebot’ Alvarez said though there is no marching order yet from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to prioritize the measure, he sees the national ID system can fast track the solution of crimes.
Alvarez hinted that there will always be an evil genius who can come up with ways and means to game a government program for selfish purposes. “but this fact of life should not paralyze the government to inaction.”
“To address this issue, the proposed bill provides for sanctions for the misuse or abuse of the ID card system,” he said.
Although security and privacy concerns are valid, he said “we should not lose sight of the benefits or advantages of having a uniform computerized system of identification of Filipino citizens wherever they may be.”
It’s been almost two decades since the government first initiated the establishment of a national ID system.
In 1996, then President Fidel Ramos issued Administrative Order No. 308 adopting a National Computerized Identification System.
Unfortunately, the order was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on the ground that legislative approval is required for the scheme.
Learning from this reversal, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order 420 requiring all government agencies and government-owned and -controlled corporations to harmonize their ID systems.
This time, the program passed muster. The tribunal upheld its validity because it applies only to government agencies that issue ID cards as part of their functions and its issuance is within the power of the president to promulgate.
The order gave rise to the Unified Multi-Purpose ID Card (UMID) that is issued to the members of SSS, GSIS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig.
In the past Congress, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 5060 (or the proposed Filipino Identification System Act) which requires all Filipinos, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, to apply for registration and issuance of a national identification card.
The ID card shall bear the cardholder’s photo, name, signature, birth date, gender, date of issue, serial number and such other data that may be deemed necessary by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The card, which is required to be made of tamper-proof security material, shall be non-transferable and valid for life.
It may be replaced only (a) when a child becomes of legal age at 18 years old; (b) there is a change in name or family name by virtue of a court order or application of law, such as a woman who adopts her husband’s surname; (c) in case of loss or destruction; and (d) for other revisions deemed necessary by the cardholder, e.g., changes in facial features due to age or medical intervention.
Filipinos living abroad would have to apply for the card at the Philippine Embassy or consular office nearest to their place of residence.
The card shall be required for all government transactions, such as, application for driver’s license and passport; availment of benefits from the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig), and clearance application with the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police and the courts.
The opposition to the proposed national ID revolves principally on the perceived threat to security and violation of privacy by the government’s collection of personal information.
The bill addresses these issues by imposing penal sanctions on the unlawful disclosure of information and records obtained in relation to the application for the ID card.
Admittedly, the proposed ID card is susceptible to abuse or misuse by corrupt government officials or the cardholder himself. And so are many other government licenses, permits or similar documentary issuances.
Alvarez is optimistic that the measure may find ways in the 17th Congress to become a law to help deter crimes which is the priority of the Duterte administration. (PNA)
