MANILA, Philippines — The first batch of registration for the implementation of the National Identification System Law will start in September, according to Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“I am happy that it’s all systems go for the national ID system based on the timeline they have presented to us this morning,” she told reporters yesterday after the House oversight committee on population and family relations advised her of the latest development.
The panel, in a hearing with officials of the Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly National Statistics Office) in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, informed her that they are ready to conduct the “first batch of registration” and issue the first IDs this September.
President Duterte signed Republic Act 11055, the Philippine Identification System or National ID Law, in August 2018.
Arroyo held the hearing at the Bethel Guest House in Dumaguete City since its principal author, Rep. Arnie Teves, is from Negros Oriental.?PSA deputy national statistician Lourdines dela Cruz, a lawyer, said the first to be registered are indigents, people with disabilities (PWDs) and government workers in several key areas all over the country.?Information to be gathered will include biometrics (thumbprint, iris and face scanning), full name, gender, date and place of birth, blood type, address and if one is a Filipino or a resident alien.
Information about marital status, mobile number and email address are optional.?After the registration, which is free of charge, the registrant will be given his/her permanent ID number. The corresponding card will be issued a few days later after the information are authenticated.?The card will serve as the single ID system for all Filipino citizens and resident aliens, which aims to eliminate the need to present other forms of identification when transacting with the government and private sector.?Dela Cruz pointed out they are targeting to issue 100 million cards to Filipinos and resident aliens by 2022.