PH National ID System Rolls Out in September
The National ID system, also known as the PhilSys ID or the Philippine Identification Card is the official national identity card of Filipinos and foreign permanent residents in the country. The “Philippine Identification System Act” (Republic Act No. 11055) which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 6, 2018. The purpose is to provide valid proof of identification not only in government transactions but also in day-to-day life. The number will be a valid and considered a unique identification for life.
At present, state transactions require at least two (2) valid ID’s if a person doesn’t have a valid government-issued identification ID such as driver’s license, Social Security System ID, passport and Professional Regulatory Commission ID’s. It’s a common problem among Filipinos especially when having transactions at banks or applying for visa and the likes.
The PhilSys ID will be necessary for the day-to-day transactions of registering for a mobile phone line, obtaining certain discounts at stores and shops (especially for the Senior Citizens), and logging on to certain websites on the internet. Schools frequently use it to identify students, both on-line and in exams.
The bill didn’t pass without difficulty. Critics fear that it can compromise and abuse privacy and could be a tool for the government to control and repress. Also, the details contained in the PhilSys ID are already present in the current government-issued ID’s. Despite the skepticism, it was set to roll out from September this year and issue the ID numbers up to 26 million Filipinos registered by 2020 and the total 106 million by 2025. By that time PhilSys ID number should be issued to newborn Filipino citizens.
The information needed for the ID are full name (Given Name, Middle Name, Surname), sex, blood type, birth date, birthplace, marital status (optional), and photograph of the bearer. It will also store the bearer’s mobile number (optional), email address (optional), and biometrics data (full fingerprints set and iris scan) in the PhilSys Registry.
All Filipino citizens and resident aliens are required to obtain PhilSys ID.
Let’s talk with aimtalk teachers:
- What can you say about the idea of having one unique identification number for life?
- What do you think will be the advantages and disadvantages of such unified ID system?
- How do you protect yourself from identity theft? What precautionary measures do you do to protect your personal information and privacy?