Senate approves national ID bill on second reading

The Senate approved on second reading Wednesday night the proposed measure seeking to establish the Philippine Identification System.

During the interpellation period, Senator Panfilo Lacson said government won't compel people to register, but they will have a harder time because they will not have any official government identification.

"If he wants to make his life miserable forever, he may not register," he said, upon the questioning of Senator Ralph Recto who raised the possibility that some people may not want to avail of the national ID.

"Mahihirapan ka makipag-transact ng business kasi hahanapan ka ng maraming ID," Lacson added.

The proposed bill seeks to harmonize, integrate, and interconnect multiple government IDs — around 33 — by establishing a single national identification system to be known as the Philippine Identification System or PhilSys.

Unlike policies in the past which were bereft of security measures, 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.

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 earlier 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.

Lacson 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.

He 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.

A P2 billion initial fund shall be allocated for the implementation and will be taken from the PSA budget.

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. —JST, GMA News