SWS sees 'extremely strong' support for national ID system
MANILA, Philippines — Majority of Filipinos approve of the creation of a national identification system, the latest Social Weather Stations survey suggests.
The poll found that 73 percent of adult Filipinos approved of the national ID system, the law for which was signed on Monday.
Only 18 percent disapproved, while the remaining nine percent did not know enough to give an opinion on it.
This yielded a net approval score of +55, classified by SWS as “extremely strong.”
The polling firm noted that the strong support for the national ID system was recorded in all areas and among those who are satisfied with the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Thirty-two percent of Filipinos believe that having a Phil-ID will be a “very big help.” Twenty-eight percent and 26 percent said it will be a “big help” and “moderate help,” respectively.
Duterte said the national ID system will reduce corruption, improve the delivery of basic services and serve as an instrument to keep the public safe.
Once implemented, uses will have need just one ID for all government transactions.
Only nine percent said that Phil-ID will be of “little help” and five percent said it will be of “almost no help.”
READ: Duterte signs law on national ID system
Most trust government to keep data safe
The same survey showed that 61 percent of Filipinos trust the government to protect the private information contained in the national ID. Only eight percent disagreed while 30 percent were undecided on the matter.
This gave a net agreement score of “extremely strong” +53.
Forty-nine percent also said they trust that the government will not use the Phil-ID against those who oppose them. Thirty-nine percent were undecided and 13 percent expressed having little trust.
This yielded a net trust score of “good” +36.
Critics raised fears on the possible violations of privacy. Others even said that it might become a tool to suppress civil liberties.
But Duterte, during the signing of the law Monday, said there is no basis for the apprehensions about the Phil-ID.
The National Privacy Commission said the agency will endeavor to ensure the full protection of the data privacy rights of the people.
The survey was conducted from June 27 to 30, more than a month before Duterte signed into law the national ID system.
A total of 1,200 adults were interviewed nationwide. The survey has sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
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