Partido Reporma standard-bearer Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Sunday pressed the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on what is causing the delay in the delivery of their National ID cards, after he posted on Twitter that he finally received his card last Friday, Jan. 28.
He asked PSA to address this issue at the soonest possible time, adding that netizens have asked him, being the author and principal sponsor of the National ID law about the delay.
Lacson, who got his PhilSys card nearly a year after he applied for it on Feb. 4, 2021, also noted other netizens, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), have inquired where and how they can apply for their ID cards.
“Finally I got my national ID card yesterday. Being an author and the principal sponsor of the Philsys Act, I hope it will help immensely improve social services, our government’s fight against crime and corruption and most importantly, public service in general,” Lacson said on his Twitter account Saturday.
As the implementing agency of the PhilSys Act, he noted that the PSA should address these issues as soon as possible. It should expedite the printing and delivery of the National ID cards, he said.
He said the PSA must also renew and intensify its information drive on how Filipinos can apply for them.
Lacson remains hopeful the National ID system overall will mean better access to social services and protection from crime and corruption.
In sponsoring the National ID measure in the Senate, Lacson cited its value in accelerating the delivery of public services by the government, as well as access of the public to services from the private sector, all without having to bring several different ID cards issued by various agencies, not to mention providing government authorities the added tools to fight crime and corruption, as well as better revenue collection.
Meanwhile, Lacson said he will check with the PSA on the delays in the delivery of the National ID cards after netizens asked about the delays while some OFWs asked him how they can apply for their PhilSys cards.
“I applied last February 4, 2021. Last time I checked with PSA, they told me that they’re prioritizing 4P’s beneficiaries and similarly situated segments of our population. I stopped following up. Now that I received mine, I will ask again for the others like you,” he said in reply to a Twitter user who is still waiting for her National ID after applying for it last year.