In the plenary session on May 5, 2015 presided by Deputy Speaker Roberto Puno,  House Bill 5060 or the proposed Filipino ID System Act was passed, but with the minority bloc expressing concern over the measure’s possible breach of the privacy of Filipino citizens.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he hopes the measure would be approved on third and final reading by the House when it resumes session this week.

“I am one hundred percent for it. It’s a game-changer,” said  Belmonte. “Virtually every country has it.”

Puno is the chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), while Belmonte sits as its honorary chairman.

HB 5060 aims to establish “an effective identification system…to facilitate transactions with the government and to simplify the processes relative to public and private services.”

The bill was authored by Representatives Gavini Pancho, Rodel Batocabe, Christopher Co,  Al Francis Bichara, Rodolfo Biazon, Anthony del Rosario, Ferdinand Hernandez, Elisa Kho, Maximo Rodriguez,  Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Rufus Rodriguez.

Under the bill, every Filipino of at least 18 years of age, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, would be mandated to register their personal information into the national ID system. The ID would be non-transferrable and would carry a number that shall be valid for life.

As a safeguard, the bill carries a provision against the “unlawful disclosure” of personal records. 

The following are exceptions to the no-disclosure rule: in cases when the cardholder authorizes the release of his data; in accidents which require medical history; upon the order of a competent court; or based on the “interest of public health or safety.”

The national ID card  would stand as credentials for applications for the issuance of   passports, driver’s licenses, pension and housing benefits, health insurance, police clearances, senior citizen card, and voting, among others.

The ID  can also be used as proof of identity, status, age, address, for admission in all learning institutions, for employment purposes, and for transactions in banking and financial institutions.

The bill identifies the Philippine Statistics Authority, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs as the implementing agencies of the law, tasked to create and maintain a Filipino Citizen Registry.