Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV has filed a bill that seeks to create a national identification (ID) system.

The proposed measure requires the government to issue a “Filipino Identification Card” to all Filipinos, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad.

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According to Senate Bill no. 95 or the Filipino Identification System bill, the “Filipino ID shall be made of tamper-proof security material” and basic information such as “imprinted photograph, name, birth date, sex, date of issue, signature of owner” should be included.

Trillanes also specified that each ID must have an individual serial number issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), as well as biometric data of the individual cardholder.

“Ultimately, this measure would help the government deliver better services to the people,” Trillanes said.

“Having a national ID system would be helpful in our anti-crime and anti-terror campaign. By having a centralized database, we would have easy access to information about suspects, fugitives and other lawless elements,” he said.

The Senate explained that the integrated identification system would help “reduce leakage” in social service programs, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

The “Filipino ID,” as stated in the bill, must be free of charge upon registration “as part of the government social service responsibility.” Citizens, however, will have to pay a fee to replace lost cards. KC Tayam, INQUIRER.net trainee/KS/rga

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