By Gabriela Baron
Recognizing the National ID’s important role in the country’s digital transformation, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the government will issue 30 million physical IDs and 20 million digital IDs by the end of 2022.
Marcor Jr., in his maiden State of the Nation Address, said the target is to accomplish the issuance of about 92-million IDs by the middle of 2023.
“For citizens to be able to seamlessly transact with the government, their identity must be verifiable,” he said.
“As the world moves into rapid digitalization, the digital divide will be more pronounced. The depth and breadth at which these technologies will be transformative in our lives is fully expected,” he added.
Marcos Jr. also stressed that universal connectivity will be a vital component in ensuring that “no citizen is left behind.”
He said he already tasked Department of Information and Communications Secretary Ivay Uy to deploy digital connectivity across the country’s various islands.
The deployment will be done through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, the common tower program, connecting the country’s Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas via the “Broadband ng Masa” project.
“This will translate into better quality, availability and affordability of telecommunications services all over the country.” –ag
