The House Committee on Revision of Laws and the Committee on Appropriations have endorsed for plenary approval the proposed “Filipino Identification System Act” contained in substitute House Bill 5060.
The proposed law will gradually consolidate all existing government initiated identification system into one integrated identification system, according to Committee of Revision chairperson Marlyn Primicias-Agabas and Appropriations chairman Isidro Ungab.
HB 5060 is in substitution of four separate but similar original measures.
The authors said HB 5060 will institutionalize a national information card for all Filipinos that would ensure facilitation and streamline government transactions.
The proposed statute identifies the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), together with the Department of Foreign Affairs, as the implementing agencies of the program, tasked to create and maintain a Filipino Citizen Registry.
The authors of the bill said the proposed legislation assures protection against unlawful disclosure of information and records obtained in relation to the application for the national ID.
Likewise, the measure provides for penal sanctions for knowingly using false information in applying for the issuance of Filipino ID and for unjustifiable refusal to accept the Filipino ID, the authors said.
The Filipino ID card will be made of tamper-proof security material. It will also have the capability to store at least the biometric data of the individual cardholder.
It will have on its face the imprinted photograph, name, birth date, gender, date of issue, signature of owner, the corresponding individual serial number issued by the PSA.
The initial application and issuance of the Filipino ID card will be free of charge as part of the government?s social service responsibility, but a replacement fee shall be paid by the cardholder. Funding for the implementation will be included in the appropriations of the PSA and the DFA in the national budget.
The pertinent details for applicants with pre-existing government issued ID card will be utilized and honored as reference in the issuance of the Filipino ID card.
When the ID system becomes operational, every Filipino residing in the Philippines shall apply for the issuance of the Filipino ID card at the office of the Local Civil Registrar of the city or municipality where one is a resident.
Likewise, every Filipino residing abroad shall apply for registration and issuance of the Filipino ID car at the nearest Philippine embassy or consular office of the country where they are residing.
When the Filipino ID card is presented to any government agency or for identification purposes, no other additional identification card will be required.
Except in instances allowed under the provisions of R.A. 92225 or ?The Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003?, the Filipino ID card will be rendered invalid and ineffective upon the loss of Filipino citizenship.
