A measure that aims to consolidate all existing government-issued IDs into a single integrated identification system has been endorsed for plenary approval by the Committees on Revision of Laws and of Appropriations in the House of Representatives.
The final version of the proposed Filipino Identification System Act—House Bill 5060—incorporates the provisions of the bills filed by Representatives Gavini Pancho (Bulacan, 2nd district) of the National Unity Party (NUP), Christopher Co and Rodel Batocabe, both of AKO-Bicol, which are partylist allies of the NUP.
HB 5060 also incorporate similar proposals filed by Representatives Al Francis Bichara, Elisa Kho, Anthony del Rosario, Ferdinand Hernandez, Rodolfo Biazon, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Rufus Rodriguez and Maximo Rodriguez.
The bill aims to institutionalize a national information card for all Filipino citizens to ensure the smooth flow of government transactions and efficient and swift delivery of frontline basic services.
Under the measure, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are tasked to implement the Filipino ID program and maintain a Filipino Citizen Registry.
HB 5060 states that every Filipino, whether residing here or abroad, “is mandated to register personal information required by the ID system and upon application shall be issued a non-transferable Filipino ID card with an ID number that shall be valid for life.”
The ID card can only be replaced under the following circumstances: a) when a child reaches the legal age of eighteen (18) years old; b) when there is change in name, family name by virtue of court order or by application of law, such as married woman who adopts the surname of the husband; c) when the ID card is lost or destroyed; d) when there are other revisions that may be deemed necessary by the card holder such as changes in the facial features, due to age or medical intervention.
The initial application and issuance of the Filipino ID card shall be free of charge as part of the government’s social service responsibility, but a replacement fee shall be paid by the cardholder. Filipino cardholders, upon reaching the age of sixty (60) years old are required to renew their Filipino ID card, free of charge, the bill states.
Pancho and the other authors of the measure have assured the public that the bill protects them from the unlawful disclosure of information and records obtained in relation to the application for the national ID.
HB 5060 imposes penalties, ranging from P50,000 to P500,000 or imprisonment of from six (6) months to two (2) years or both, “for knowingly using false information in applying for the issuance of Filipino ID, for willful and unjustifiable refusal to accept, acknowledge and recognize the Filipino ID, and the act of connivance by a public official or employee in committing the aforementioned acts,” the authors said.
When the Filipino ID card is presented to any government agency or for identification purposes, no other additional identification card shall be required, they added.
Except in instances allowed under the provisions of R.A. 92225 or “The Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003”, the Filipino ID card shall motu propio be rendered invalid and ineffective upon the loss of Filipino citizenship.
The national ID, made of tamper-proof security material, will contain on its face the imprinted photo, name, birthdate, gender, date of issue of the ID, signature of the owner, the corresponding individual serial number issued by the PSA and such other dates and numbers as may be deemed necessary.
The ID should have the capability to store at least the biometric data of the individual cardholder.
When the ID system becomes operational, every Filipino residing in the Philippines will have to apply for the registration and issuance of the Filipino ID card at the office of the Local Civil Registrar of the city or municipality where one is a resident, the bill states.
Meanwhile, Filipinos living overseas will also have to register at the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consular Office of the country where they are residing so that they can be issued a Filipino ID card.