(Eagle News)– The House committee on population and family relations approved on Wednesday (May 10) the proposed establishment of a national ID system in the Philippines.
Chaired by Laguna Representative Sol Aragones, the committee unanimously approved a substitute bill to the 18 measures filed by House members.
The proposal seeks to create a national ID that will be used for all government transactions, only one card serving as the “official identity verification” of all Filipino citizens.
Under the bill, the ID will contain personal information, including the person’s name, permanent address, age, gender, and a photo.
Biometric information, like fingerprints, will be contained in a chip.
The ID may also be used in all government transactions including applications for passport, driver’s license, availment of services and benefits offered by insurance institutions, clearances from the courts, prosecutor and the police, and other transactions requiring proof of identification.
Public and private entities will also be mandated to accept the ID as valid proof of identity.
The initial issuance of the national ID card, should the measure become a law, shall be free of charge as part of the government’s social service responsibility.
A replacement fee shall be paid by the cardholder.
