NPC vows to ensure security features of national ID

MANILA, Philippines — The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is committed to work on the successful implementation of the national identification (ID) system by ensuring security measures are in place when it becomes a law.

“The NPC supports this measure and is fully committed to its success,” NPC commissioner Raymund Liboro said yesterday.

NPC is part of the technical working group spearheaded by the National Economic and Development Authority and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which threshed out issues, including privacy and data protection, and drafted the bill adopted as Senate Bill 1738.

The measure involves the creation of a national ID system with the ID to be issued to all citizens and resident aliens.

The IDs would contain information such as full name, gender, date and place of birth and address, as well as photograph and biometrics.

Through the national ID system, the government expects Filipinos to easily access services requiring proof of identity.

The NPC would be involved in coming up with the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the measure, after it is signed into law.

“What is in the law are general statements. There will be an IRR. I think that is one of things where we have to be vigilant, that the security measures promised by the law will come into place,” NPC deputy commissioner Ivy Patdu said.

Under the measure the PSA, with technical assistance from the Department of Information and Communications Technology, would be required to implement security measures to ensure the protection of information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure and against accidental or intentional loss, destruction or damage.

The PSA is likewise tasked to ensure individuals are informed upon registration on how the data they provide will be used and how they can access their registered information and record history.

Patdu said the NPC is now working with the different agencies to ensure the security measures are in place in relation to storage of information, as well as how it will be accessed.

The government has allocated P2 billion for PSA to establish the national ID system this year.