By Sweeden Velado-Ramirez
Despite the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Acting Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua called on Filipinos to register online with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), the government’s national identification program.
The Step 1 online registration for PhilSys begins this coming month of April, giving Filipinos the ease and convenience of registering from their homes. The Step 1 registration will cover the collection of demographic information and appointment-setting for Step 2.
At the PhilSys ceremonial event last March 19, Chua mentioned the benefits of having a National ID.
“Isa sa layunin ng National ID ang pagbigay-access sa serbisyong pinansiyal na kadalasang nahahadlangan ng kawalan ng valid ID. Inaasahan din natin na sa pamamagitan ng National ID, mapapadali ang mga transaksyon sa gobyerno at negosyo,” Chua said.
[One of the goals of the National ID (system) is to give (people) access to financial services, (access that is) often barred because of their lack of a valid ID. We trust that through the National ID, transactions in government and businesses will be made more efficient.]
According to the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department in 2017, the Philippines is one of nine countries in the world without a central identification system. World Bank’s 2017 Findex Survey showed that one out of eight Filipino adults cannot open a bank account due to lack of documentary requirements.
The PhilSys aims to establish a single national identification system for all citizens and resident aliens of the country. As a foundational digital ID system, the PhilSys will transform how services are delivered and accessed in the Philippines, and accelerate our transition to a digital economy, enabling presenceless, paperless, and cashless transactions.
The PhilSys project emphasizes inclusive coverage, enabling access to the most vulnerable groups such as the poor, people living in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.
Built on a Privacy-by-Design principle, the PhilSys will adopt the latest technologies and innovations in the implementation of the project, underscoring the importance of privacy of individuals and security of information under the system.
A foundational digital ID system like PhilSys will contribute to nation building. It will enable the Philippines to move away from inefficient and expensive physical documents, processes, and credentials to the use of digital equivalents. For more details, visit http://psa.gov.ph/philsys
