Palace confident Duterte will approve national ID system

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will sign the proposed measure establishing a national identification card (ID) system, Malacañang guaranteed Thursday, May 24.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., in a statement, said it is a welcoming development that the bicameral conference committee already approved the bill that will create the Philippine Identification System.

"We welcome the approval of the National ID System by the House and Senate bicameral conference committee," the Palace official said in a statement.

"This landmark bill is part of the legislative priority agenda of the Duterte administration to improve the delivery of government services; thus, once ratified, the President will sign this into law," he added.

The bicameral panel has agreed to adopt the Senate version of the bill establishing the national ID system with just minor amendments.

Senate Bill 1738 seeks the establishment of a Philippine Identification System to provide a valid proof of identity for all Filipino citizens and resident aliens in the country that will simplify public and private transactions.

The proposed national ID system is also aimed at eliminating the need to present other forms of identification when transacting with the government and the private sect or.

Under the bill, the Philippine Identification System will contain the demographic data and biometric information of Filipino and alien residents.

Once passed into law, the Philippine Statistics will oversee the use of the national ID system.

The Senate and the House of the Representatives are expected to ratify the bicameral-approved bill on May 28. The ratified version of the proposed Philippine Identification System will then be sent to Duterte's office for his signature. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)