Citizens of the Philippines will finally have their own national ID after President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the Philippine ID System Law. It aims to provide ease transactions between the people and the government.
Under the law, the ID will be embedded with a microchip which will include information such as name, gender, place of birth, as well as fingerprints and iris scan of the bearer.
What you need to know about the newly-enacted Philippine ID System Law:
1. The new system will incorporate all government-initiated identification systems into an integrated and efficient identification system for Filipino citizens. This means data will be sourced from existing databases such as passport, driver’s license, social security and other established data sources.
2. The establishment of this ID system is governed by the existing Data Privacy Act to ensure the protection of an individual’s right to privacy and prevent access by unauthorized parties for confidential information.
3. A Common Reference Number (CRN) will be associated to each citizen containing essential information such as full name, address, date, and place of birth, sex, civil status, signature, CRN and date of card issuance, along with a recent photo.
4. The ID, using the CRN as the reference, can be used by a citizen to transact across any branch of the government. Likewise, the ID will also be honored when transacting with private institutions such as banks, utility companies and other related establishments.
5. Filipinos based abroad can register at the closest embassy or consular offices in their countries to get their assigned CRN.
6. Application for the ID will be free of charge and expenses in producing it shall be borne by the Philippine government.
7. Information to be collected under the Philippine Identification System includes the following:
Mandatory
• Full name
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Blood type
• Address
• Citizenship
Optional
• Marital status
• Mobile number(s)
• Email address(es)
Biometrics
Biometric information will also be recorded, including:
• Front-facing photograph
• Full set of fingerprints
• Iris Scan
Other identifiable features may be collected, if necessary.
8. The Philippine ID can be used when transacting with national government agencies, local government units, government-owned or -controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and the private sector.
9. The law lays out specific transactions that the ID can be used for:
• Applying for social welfare and benefits
• Applying for services offered by the GSIS, SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-Ibig, and other government agencies
• Applying for passport and driver’s licenses
• Tax-related transactions
• Registration and voting identification purposes
• Applying for schools, colleges, universities, and other learning institutions Applying for employment and other related transactions
• Opening bank accounts and other transactions with banks and financial institutions
• Verifying criminal records and clearances
• Other transactions defined in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR)
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