/PNA
MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered the best and safest approach in the implementation of the National ID System amid security concerns from various groups, Malacañang said on Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President made the directive during the 34th Cabinet meeting on Wednesday night at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of Malacañang.
“The President was agreeable to the establishment of one and I think it will start in September of 2019 with a target of 6 million Filipinos for registration this year,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Panelo said National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon has assured the security of the information once the system is in place.
“Secretary Esperon said we can be sure na hindi magkakaroon ng (there won’t be any) snafu doon sa (in) security,” he said.
Panelo said Esperon suggested that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) should take the lead in ensuring the security and taking care of the data, respectively.
On Aug. 6, 2018, Duterte signed Republic Act 11055 creating PhilSys or the National ID, which serves as a single official identification card for all citizens and foreign residents in the country.
Duterte earlier said the PhilSys will boost his drive against “social menaces of poverty, corruption, and criminal issues, as well as terrorism and violent extremism”.
