The bicameral conference committee has approved the proposed Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) bill, which will allow the government to collect each individual’s demographic data and biometrics information, a lawmaker said on Thursday.
Rep. Alfredo Garbin of Ako Bicol party-list, a member of the bicameral panel that reconciled the House and Senate versions of the measure, noted that the bill is expected to be ratified this afternoon.
Under the bill, the government will be authorized to issue a card as well as collect and store demographic data of the public, including full name, sex, date of birth, blood type, address and status as to whether a person is a Filipino citizen or a resident alien.
The measure also authorizes the government to collect biometrics information, including individuals’ front facing photograph, full set of fingerprints, iris sen and other identifiable features as may be determined by the Implementing Rules and Regulations.
The collection of data on marital status, mobile number and email address, however, is optional.
“All the data that will be registered under the PhilSys will be absolutely confidential. Likewise, the issuance of any information without consent of the registered person has penal provisions,” Garbin pointed out.
In case of visual or physical impairment that renders the capturing of the biometrics information of the person impossible, biometrics exceptions will be allowed by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Rep. Karlo Nograles of Davao City, chairman of the House appropriations panel, welcomed the passage of the National ID System.
“This new ID is designed to replace all other government-issued identification cards so that we would only have to carry just one card for all our transactions. This will save the cardholder and the government itself time and money from having to deal with multiple ID cards,” Nograles, who is eyeing a P2-billion budget for the measure, said in a statement.
“It is comforting that the government is on its way to enforcing a law that will augment our existing security mechanisms,” he added.
But for Rep. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela party-list, the PhilSys is a systematic attack on people’s freedom and privacy.
“This is a devious tactic to spy on critics and keep tabs on citizens. Threats to life and basic freedoms are real under status quo, and these threats are elevated several notches higher with the national ID [system],” Brosas said in a statement.
“Putting all of people’s information in one database puts everyone at risk. It will be lotto’s grand prize for online criminals and identity theft,” she added.
On top of a possible breach, the proposed ID system will exclude and disenfranchise marginalized sectors, including indigenous communities, which could have no means to register themselves under the system.
“The presence of [such system] will not answer people’s lack of access to services simply because the government continues to fail in providing these services in the first place,” Brosas said.
Rep. Alfredo Garbin of Ako Bicol party-list, a member of the bicameral panel that reconciled the House and Senate versions of the measure, noted that the bill is expected to be ratified this afternoon.
Under the bill, the government will be authorized to issue a card as well as collect and store demographic data of the public, including full name, sex, date of birth, blood type, address and status as to whether a person is a Filipino citizen or a resident alien.
The measure also authorizes the government to collect biometrics information, including individuals’ front facing photograph, full set of fingerprints, iris sen and other identifiable features as may be determined by the Implementing Rules and Regulations.
The collection of data on marital status, mobile number and email address, however, is optional.
“All the data that will be registered under the PhilSys will be absolutely confidential. Likewise, the issuance of any information without consent of the registered person has penal provisions,” Garbin pointed out.
In case of visual or physical impairment that renders the capturing of the biometrics information of the person impossible, biometrics exceptions will be allowed by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Rep. Karlo Nograles of Davao City, chairman of the House appropriations panel, welcomed the passage of the National ID System.
“This new ID is designed to replace all other government-issued identification cards so that we would only have to carry just one card for all our transactions. This will save the cardholder and the government itself time and money from having to deal with multiple ID cards,” Nograles, who is eyeing a P2-billion budget for the measure, said in a statement.
“It is comforting that the government is on its way to enforcing a law that will augment our existing security mechanisms,” he added.
But for Rep. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela party-list, the PhilSys is a systematic attack on people’s freedom and privacy.
“This is a devious tactic to spy on critics and keep tabs on citizens. Threats to life and basic freedoms are real under status quo, and these threats are elevated several notches higher with the national ID [system],” Brosas said in a statement.
“Putting all of people’s information in one database puts everyone at risk. It will be lotto’s grand prize for online criminals and identity theft,” she added.
On top of a possible breach, the proposed ID system will exclude and disenfranchise marginalized sectors, including indigenous communities, which could have no means to register themselves under the system.
“The presence of [such system] will not answer people’s lack of access to services simply because the government continues to fail in providing these services in the first place,” Brosas said.
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