MANILA, Philippines — The Duterte administration will roll out the national identification system before yearend to start the registration for about 107 million Filipinos, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday.

Citing a report during the Cabinet meeting last Monday, Panelo said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and newly appointed National Statistician Dennis Mapa announced the rollout by September this year.

“There will be a pilot testing, which will run from September to December 2019 to register a substantial number of Filipinos nationwide. By the end of the President’s term in 2022, 107 million Filipinos are targeted to be registered,” Panelo said.

Last August, President Duterte signed into law the Philippine ID System (PhilSys) Act, which mandates the creation of a unified and streamlined national ID system.

The PhilSys is a centralized database for vital information on all residents and resident aliens in the Philippines.

A physical national ID or PhilID will be issued to each individual who registers with the system. Each person will also get a randomly generated, unique and permanent ID number or Common Reference Number.

Personal data to be collected for the national ID will include name, sex, date of birth, place of birth and address. Biometrics information will also be collected, including facial image, full set of fingerprints, iris scan and other identifiable features that are necessary.

It will be optional to give one’s mobile number and email address.

At least P2 billion was allocated for the national ID program in the 2018 budget.

Overseeing development efforts

The President is also set to issue an executive order directing Cabinet members to oversee development efforts in the regions to solve the problems that triggered the decades-long communist rebellion.

During last Monday’s Cabinet meeting, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. requested that the designation of the Cabinet officers for regional development and security (CORDS) be formalized through an EO.

“This initiative spreads Cabinet officials nationwide and is designated per region to help in ending regional and local communists,” Panelo said.

“The CORDS will also be able to help in delivering basic services and livelihood to regions,” he added.

Panelo said Duterte had approved Esperon’s request and is expected to issue an EO on CORDS soon.

“That’s in the offing,” the spokesman said. – Alexis Romero