MANILA — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday welcomed the enactment of Republic Act No. 11055 or the Philippine System Identification Act.
“Based on our experience, armed conflicts and insurgencies are often rooted in poor governance and delivery of basic services. Having a national ID system in place will help government address the gaps in the identification of citizens entitled to receive government services, thereby making things more convenient for law-abiding Filipinos,” Lorenzana said in a statement.
He added that a national ID system is beneficial to a country prone to disasters as the system would improve the distribution of aid to legitimate disaster victims.
“Matters such as this can now be better addressed because of the new law,” the defense chief said.
While he welcomed the beneficial effects of the measure on law enforcement operations, Lorenzana assured the public that individual privacy will be respected.
Signed into law by Duterte on Monday, the measure seeks to integrate the various government IDs of all citizens and foreign residents in the country.
The President tasked the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to work closely with the National Privacy Commission, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the multi-agency PhilSystem Policy and Coordination Council to address all concerns pertaining to privacy and security. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
