National ID system, a boon or a bane?

EDITORIAL

PRESIDENT Duterte signed into law on August 6, the measure establishing the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) after both houses of Congress ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the last week of May.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said the government will spend P4 billion to jumpstart the National ID system this year and next year. National Statistician Lisa Grace S. Bersales said around P2 billion will be spent this year and P2 billion next year for the National ID.

Bersales said of the P2 billion allocated for this year, around P1.4 billion will be spent to procure the system and P600 million will be for administrative costs.

The system will be procured through International Competitive Bidding (ICB), consistent with government procurement rules and regulations.

The remaining P2 billion allocated for 2019 will be used for actual data capture and implementation of the National ID system.

Now that the Philippine Identification System Act is signed into law, all citizens and resident aliens of the country will be provided with a valid proof of identify as a means of simplifying public and private transactions, according to Malacanang.

One year after the effectivity of the Act, every citizen or resident alien shall register personally in registration centers. This law, Malacanang said,  aims to eliminate the need to present other forms of identification when transacting with the government and the private sector, subject to appropriate authentication measures based on a biometric identification system.

The Philippine ID shall contain the following information: the PhilSys number, full name, sex, blood type, marital status (optional), place of birth, photograph, date of birth and address.

The PhilSys number is a randomly generated, unique and permanent identification number that will be assigned to every citizen or resident alien upon birth or registration by the PSA, which is also the primary implementing agency to carry out provisions of the measure.

For data privacy and security, the ID shall contain a QR code which contains some fingerprint information and other security measures, such as iris scan.

Any information obtained as a result of unlawful disclosure under the Act shall be inadmissible in any judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative proceeding.

Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno earlier said the establishment of a national identification system will help improve delivery of government services and reduce fraudulent transactions.

Aside from the seamless delivery of services, establishment of a single national identification system is also meant to improve the efficiency, transparency and targeted delivery of public and social services, enhance administrative governance, reduce corruption and curtail bureaucratic red tape, strengthen financial inclusion and promote ease of doing business.

The Philippines has a Unified-Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) system in place but Bersales earlier said the proposed Philippine ID is different from UMID.

Bersales said UMID is a “functional ID” while the proposed Philippine ID is a “foundational ID.”

She said functional IDs are ID cards, numbers, or other systems created for specific government services, such as driver’s licenses and voter cards. Foundational IDs are not linked to special services, but serve as a legal proof of identity for multiple purposes, for example, as unique ID cards.

Now oppositionists are saying the PhiSys could be any private citizen’s nightmare since all personal data conveniently packaged in a single ID  could easily fall into the hands of unscrupulous people.

But the Chief Executive assured the public government will protect the data in the PhilSys database amid concerns of possible data breach and privacy violations.

“There is no basis at all for the apprehension about the Phil-id unless of course that fear is based on anything that borders to illegal. If at all, the Phil-id will even aid in our drive against the social menaces of poverty, corruption, and criminal issues, as well as terrorism and violent extremism,” the President said..

Supporters say the ID will have advanced security features to protect the personal information stored in the ID.

However, naysayers have been quick to point out that just last year, despite similarly firm assurances, a data breach on the government’s Commission on Elections website leaked confidential data to the public. The leak revealed the personal information of 15 million voters, as well as information from election-related databases.

Under the PhilSys, third parties, including law enforcement and national security agencies, as well as units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will not have access to FilSys data, except when:

The cardholder expressly authorizes the disclosure of information to a third person, entity, or agency

There are accidents, disasters, or fortuitous events where medical history and relevant information are needed by medical and health service institutions and workers

Public health or safety requires it

Any competent court orders it

The proponents and supporters of the national ID insist that it has many practical uses, especially in situations requiring disclosure of personal details and identity. Among these are as transacting with government offices, paying taxes or fees, applying for licenses, certificates, or permits from any public institution, going into financial transactions for projects sourced from public funds, or even legal transactions before a notary public.

More than cutting red tape and preventing fraud and questionable transactions, the national ID is also touted by some as the first step to preventing terrorism and lawlessness.

However, it helps to remember that no bill would ever enumerate the disadvantages of the very system it is proposing to implement.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said the House’s Makabayan bloc consulted with information technology experts who agreed that the national ID has the potential for endangering the security of personal sensitive information. This can also be used in suppressing or violating human rights.

Until then, only vigilance would be the law-abiding Filipino’s first line of defense against any and all forms of potential abuse. This, of course, includes any invasion of the right to privacy.