Senate panel passes version of nat’l ID system

The Senate Committee on Justice has approved the proposed measure seeking to establish the Philippine Identification System.

In his sponsorship speech Monday, Senator Panfilo Lacson said the government was denying millions of Filipinos access to their rights and services from the government without a national ID system.

Lacson said the government has for more than three decades attempted to establish a national ID system, but the measure continues to face oppositions based on constitutional grounds, particularly on privacy concerns.

“What we allow are multiple identification systems in government which create unnecessary and costly redundancies, resulting in the exclusion of those who do not have the means and capacity to access the IDs," Lacson said.

"Likewise, we make it inconvenient for individuals to transact with government agencies and private sector entities,” he added.

Lacson said that the government had instituted a Unified Multi-Purpose ID or UMID but added that it was not enough.

The UMID is issued to the members of the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund).

Lacson said that while the UMID provided a chance at harmonizing government ID systems, UMID only covered less than 20 percent of the population since the start of its enrollment process in 2010.

He said several government-issued ID numbers were in use, resulting in duplication of efforts, wastage of resources, and uncoordinated identity approaches.

“In fact, a perusal of the list of valid IDs in the Philippines enumerates 33 – I repeat, 33 – different forms of identification issued by various government agencies. Sabi nga ng kagalang-galang na Minority Leader, isa sa may-akda ng panukalang ito, Senator Franklin Drilon, ‘Nagsisilbi lamang pampakapal ng wallet at bulsa ng mga Pilipino ang mga IDs mula sa gobyerno’,” Lacson said.

He said the proposed bill seeks to harmonize, integrate, and interconnect these countless and redundant government IDs by establishing a single national identification system to be known as the Philippine Identification System or PhilSys.                            

Lacson said unlike policies in the past which were bereft of security measures, the committee made certain that the proposed bill will plug the loopholes and provide better safeguards.

Under the bill, PhilSys will have three key components: the PhilSys Number or PSN, the PhilID, and the PhilSys Registry.

He said with a foundational ID, which shall serve as a legal proof of identity for multiple purposes, possibilities for more functions without the need for limitless data will be opened.

“The bill will allow every Filipino and resident alien of the country to be identified with the use of a PhilSys Number or PSN, a randomly generated, unique and permanent identification number which shall be the standard number assigned to each individual to be incorporated in all identification systems of government agencies,” Lacson said.

He said the PhilID will be a non-transferable card containing on its face the PSN, full name, facial image, date of birth, address and fingerprints of the individual.

Under the proposed measure, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is mandated to act as the PhilSys Registry, a repository and custodian of all data including the PSN, registered records, and information of all persons registered in the PhilSys.

The bill also creates a PhilSys Policy and Coordination Council (PSPCC), with the mandate to formulate policies and guidelines to ensure effective coordination and implementation of the PhilSys.

He said an important feature of this proposed legislation was the concept of authentication or the process of verifying, whether online or offline, the identity of an individual against the registry information in the PhilSys or PhilID.

Lacson said the information would not be easily accessible except in four circumstances.

• when the registered person has given his or her consent, specific to the purpose prior to the processing;
• when the compelling interest of public health or safety so requires, relevant information may be disclosed provided the risk of significant harm to the public is established and the owner of the information is notified within 72 hours of the fact of such disclosure;
• upon order of any competent court; and
• when a registered person requests from the PSA access to his or her registered information and record history, subject to the guidelines and regulations to be issued by the PSA.

He said the committee maintained that indiscriminate data collection may pose risks to individual privacy so the data collected by the Philippine Registry shall be limited to demographic information such as a person's name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and address.

Lacson said providing other information such as one's mobile number and e-mail address was optional.

He said biometrics information to be collected also include facial image, full set of fingerprints, iris scan and if necessary, other identifiable features of an individual as may be determined.

Under the bill, refusal to accept the PhilID or PSN, the use of false name or information in the application, unlawful manner or use of the PhilID or PSN to commit a fraudulent act or for unlawful purpose; access data or information by unauthorized persons; and, malicious disclosure of data or information either for profit or by negligence will be penalized.

He said a P2 billion initial fund should be allocated for the implementation and it will be taken from the PSA budget.

“In deliberating this proposed measure, I urge everyone to keep in mind that the lack of identification creates formidable barriers for the downtrodden and the poor, and creates even larger barriers between the government and the people,” Lacson said.

In September 2017, the House of Representatives, voting 142-7, approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to establish an identification system via national ID cards for all Filipinos.  —NB, GMA News