CONGRESS has passed a measure to consolidate all existing government-initiated identification systems into one integrated and efficient national ID system.
Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones said the committee on population and family relations gave its nod to the proposed measure.
“All committee members agreed unanimously,” she said.
The bill will be discussed anew before the plenary for its second reading.
Under the measure, all Filipinos residing anywhere in the world must register their personal information into the central system to be managed by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
A registered Filipino will be issued a nontransferable national ID card with a number that shall be valid for life, while those staying or working overseas must register for their IDs at the nearest Philippine Embassy or consular office in the country where they are staying.
The measure said that the ID card would be honored in transactions concerning a person’s identity, marital status, birth, and other personal circumstances.
“First and foremost, the name, permanent address,magem sex and picture must be there,” Aragones said.
The ID card shall also bear the fingerprint of the person with a common reference number.
“Just click the reference number, all information shall be made available,” she said.
The ID may be used for applications for passport, driver’s license, Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), and the National Bureau of Investigation.