Gov’t mulls special national ID registration for IPs, far villages

By Pamela Mariz Geminiano

BAGUIO CITY -- The government is considering making "special arrangements" for the registration of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and those living in remote villages, along with minors, senior citizens, persons with disability, and persons in institutional households for the National ID System.

"There might be special registrations in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA)," Rose Tecio of the Philippine Identification System Registry Office disclosed at the 2018 Economic and Financial Literacy Forum here on Monday.

With the Philippine Identification System Act (PhilSys) now in effect, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is conducting information dissemination campaigns all over the country.

On Monday, the PSA, through the PhilSys Registry Office, briefed students and government and private sector employees in the City of Pines.

"PhilSys is a foundational identification system that will provide a valid proof of identity for all citizens and resident aliens as a means of simplifying public and private transactions," Tecio said.

She added the procurement of ID-making machines is now in the bidding process while actual registration has not yet started.

Tecio said the National ID System aims to promote seamless government service delivery, ease of doing business, efficient governance, and financial inclusion while reducing corruption.

"This will serve as the official government-issued identification document of cardholders," she said, stressing that only the initial issuance of the ID is free.

Demographic and biometric Information of a person shall be collected upon registration. For children below five years old, only the demographic information and front-facing photograph will be collected.

                Tecio said the PhilSys ID can be used in various transactions, including school enrolment, admission to hospitals, opening of bank accounts, and employment purposes.