Screens assured for safe PhilSys

A Pasay City Hall employee prepares police clearance identification cards for distribution yesterday. Features of these cards, however, will soon be incorporated into a single National ID system following the signing by President Rodrigo Duterte of the PhilSys Act on Monday. RAFAEL TABOY

A lawmaker yesterday dispelled fears about the new ID system recently signed into a law by President Rodrigo Duterte, saying enough safeguards have been put in place to secure the privacy of citizens.

Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones, one of the proponents of what many senators and congressmen branded as “a landmark law,” said there is nothing to fear about the Philippine System Identification Act (PhilSys).

Aragones’ statement, made during a radio interview, was in reaction to government critics’ claim that the ID system may violate privacy. Aragones said these claims are unfounded.

The lawmaker added aside from the safeguards ensured by the law, the new ID will only contain the basic information of the bearer.

On Monday, President Duterte signed the law that aims to fast-track the delivery of government services to citizens and resident aliens of the Philippines.

“Government agencies can only access the information that will be tabulated by the Philippine Statistics Authority into the ID if there is a court order, consent from the owner or a compelling public interest on health and safety,” Aragones said.

“There is no need to worry because only the basic information will be shown in the ID which is also in other existing identification cards,” said Aragones who also chairs the House Committee on Population and Family Relations.

The national ID will contain a person’s Philippine Identification System number, full name, gender, blood type, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, address and a front facing photo.

Aragones said she will raise other concerns on the ID system when the implementing agencies meet on 15 August.

Meanwhile, the Senate is set to adjust the proposed 2019 budget to allot funds for the implementation of the national ID system, according to Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon.

“It is not yet included in the budget because by the time the budget was prepared, it was not yet approved,” Drilon said.

“But that should be no problem as adjustments can be made in the national expenditures program so that the necessary budget for the national ID system to start-up the process can be provided,” he added.

Prior to the passage of the law, government submitted a P3.757-trillion proposed 2019 budget.

The PhilSys Act mandates government to create a single official identification card for all citizens and foreign residents that would serve as their national identification number.

Duterte said the PhilSys Act will pave the way for efficient services delivery, enhance administrative governance, reduce corruption, curtail bureaucratic red tape, promote ease of doing business and strengthen financial inclusion.

Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go hailed the signing of the PhylSys Act as a major step in curbing corruption and curtailing red tape.

The President also assured the public that government will protect the data in the PhilSys database amid concerns of possible data breach and privacy violations.

He noted that the information contained in the PhilSys can also be found in the databases of other government organizations such as the Philippine Statistics Office, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund and the Commission on Elections.

“That fear is based on anything that borders to illegal. If at all, the Philippine ID will even aid in our drive against the social menaces of poverty, corruption and criminal issues as well as terrorism and violent extremism,” Duterte said in his speech during the ceremonial signing of the law.