Neda target: 105M Filipinos with national IDs by end of Duterte term

Up to 105 million Filipinos will have national identification (ID) cards by middle of 2022 as the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) starts implementing the national ID law in September, according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Neda chief.

Pernia on Monday (July 1) said the Neda was speeding up the implementation of the ID system that would provide identification cards which would make it easier for people to transact with government offices, banks and other agencies.

Proponents of the ID system had dismissed fears raised by critics that the system was meant to ferret out members of the underground communist movement and would violate the right to privacy.

Pernia said at the Pre-Sona Economic and Infrastructure Forum that the Neda was already in the stage of acquiring technology and equipment needed like automated biometric machines and a “systems integrator.”

Pernia said multiple pilot tests will be conducted between September and December “to make sure that the system is flawless and perfected before we ramp up and increase the registration and enrolment in the system.”

According to Pernia, “by mid-2022, we should have already enrolled 105 million Filipinos.” President Rodrigo Duterte ends his six-year term that year.

The Neda-attached Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will implement Republic Act (RA) No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act.

The government this year planned to start issuing national IDs for what it considered as priority sectors like beneficiaries of government cash aid, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Those who have no government IDs yet would also be enjoined to enlist in the system first.

The preliminary rollout of PhilSys in September would cover an initial six million individuals.

From July next year until June 2022, the government would register all Filipinos, including those living and working abroad, as well as resident aliens, Neda earlier said.

Between July and December 2022, newborns will also be issued PhilSys numbers. (Editor: Tony Bergonia)