Filipinos can start registering for the national ID system starting July 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.
Citizens who are overseas, including Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), would be able to register around mid 2021.
PSA are currently running pilot testings since September last year.
Photo Courtesy: Philippine Statistics Authority
“The PSA sees the utmost importance for the PhilSys (Philippine Identification System) to first undergo a series of pilot testing before finally launching it to the public. We want to ensure that the processes are efficient, the systems are fully functional, and all information within the system are secure,” Undersecretary, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General (NSCRG) Dennis Mapa said.
The initial process of the pilot registration includes demographic data collection and the biometrics. Mapa also said that the PhilSys numbers are generated uniquely to avoid duplication.
Expansion of operations can be expected to cover more set of groups from specific regions such as Calabarzon and Central Luzon once the initial test run proves to be successful.
The PSA Undersecretary also said that the enrollment of the entire population is going to be completed by mid-2022.
The ID will contain demographic information such as the holder’s full name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, address, blood type, and whether they are a Filipinos or a resident alien.
Once the national ID is acquired, transactions with the Philippine government would be sufficient as it interconnects other government-issued IDs.
Mapa also addressed privacy concerns with regards to the implementation. He said that confidentiality and integrity of personal data will be ensured.
“Given that the PhilSys is a highly technical and complex program, we are pushing with multiple pilot testing to continuously improve the system and level up its security features before launching it to the public,” he explained.
The Philippine Statistics Authority, National Privacy Commission, the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the multi-agency PhilSystem Policy and Coordinating Council are the state agencies that are working together to address such concerns.
Davao is among the first regions to roll out a national ID registration since the Philippine Identification System Act was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in August last year.
The age requirement for the said registration must be 5 years of age and above, however, the children have to re-register with PSA during their teenage years to have their biometrics recaptured.
By Jennallyssa Marie Eligino
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