It’s all systems go for natl ID system by September–Arroyo

THE leadership of the House of Representatives on Tuesday said the government is ready to conduct the initial batch of registration and issuance of the first Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) in September.

Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the National Statistics Office made assurance following the House Oversight Committee on Population and Family Relations held in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

“I am happy that it’s all systems go for the National ID system based on the timeline they have presented to us this morning,” she said in a news statement. The government is targeting that by 2022, it would have issued 105 million cards to Filipinos and resident aliens. The government has guaranteed a P2-billion funding for the national ID system.

According to the identification for development initiative of the World Bank, over 16.3 million Filipinos do not have proof of identity and are hindered from availing of government and financial services.

During the hearing, Atty. Lourdines de la Cruz, deputy national statistician of the Philippine Statistics Authority, said that in compliance with R A 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act, they will start the registration for the PhilSys this September by targeting about 6 million individuals. She added those that are eligible to register are Filipinos and resident aliens that are at least five years old.