Duterte signs National ID, Bangsamoro Region laws

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte led the ceremonial signing of the Philippine Identification System Act and the presentation of the organic law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at Malacañang on Monday, Aug. 6.

The ceremony was attended by the Cabinet members; members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, including Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo; Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) officials; members of the diplomatic corps; Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) officials; and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), including Mohagher Q. Iqbal and Ghazali Jaafar who are also high-ranking leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In his speech, Mr. Duterte said the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act “will not just enhance administrative governance but reduce corruption, curtail bureaucratic red tape, and promote the ease of doing business, (and) also avert fraudulent transactions, strengthen financial inclusion, and create a more secure environment for our people.”

The new law aims to eliminate the need to present other forms of identification when transacting with the government and the private sector by providing a single valid proof of identity for all Filipino citizens and foreign residents in the country.