Gov't to complete national ID for 105M Filipinos by 2020

The Duterte administration is looking to complete the distribution of a national ID fo 105 million Filipinos by 2020 to effectively identify targeted recipients of government subsidies.

"Ang nasa budget na ngayon for 2018, sisimulan na po natin next year. So, hopefully, within two years makumpleto po natin yung national ID, o 'yung social welfare card," Finance Undersectrary Karl Kendrick Chua told reporters on the sidelines of the Tax Reform Forum in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday.

"Initially for 2018, ang pinasok ng Department of Budget and Management ay P2 billion. For 2019 may additional budget para matapos 'to by 2020," Chua noted.

The Finance official said that the national ID system aims to properly identify recipients of government's subsidies.

"Ang proposal po natin, sa susunod na dalawang taon ay bigyan po ng ID ang bawat Pilipino, 105 million Filipinos. Ang ID na 'yan ay gagamitin ding basis for social welfare, dahil sa ID makikilala ang pangalan, tahanan, at kung anuman ang mga characteristics nila para alam natin kung paano mapapabilis ang pagbibigay ng serbisyo [sa kanila]," he said.

"Halimbawa, ang Marawi hindi pa natin alam paano magbibigay, ni-re-register pa natin nang paulit-ulit, like the situation nung Lawin at Yolanda. With the national ID hindi na kailangang gawin 'yan. Pagakatapos ng bagyo o delubyo mas mapapabilis natin mapaparating ang serbisyo kung may national ID tayo," he added.

The national ID system will initially cover marginalized sectors as priority recipients such as senior citizens, persons with disability, and the poorest families, Chua said. — VDS/KVD, GMA News