Palace assures data security as Duterte signs National ID System
Malacañang assured the public that their personal information will be secure once these are consolidated into one database, as President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Philippine ID System (PhilSys) on Monday.
During a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that Filipinos have nothing to worry about with regards to the security of their information. He also expressed confidence in the constitutionality of the PhilSys.
“I would like to assure the people that unlike the national ID bill which was earlier declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court because, in Ople v Executive Secretary, because there were no safeguards to protect the database, this time around, there is a privacy law and in the law itself, it specified that the government has the obligation to promote the data gathered because of the national ID system,” Roque said.
“That’s why we are confident that this time around it will pass the test of constitutionality,” he added.
The Palace official also said that the administration is hoping to improve the efficiency and transparency of public services through PhilSys, which is a part of the common legislative agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
Furthermore, he pointed out the benefits of the national ID including the convenience of not having to present multiple identification cards to prove one’s identity.
The national ID system would also help strengthen national security and prevent identity theft, according to Roque.
The Philippine Statistics Authority will spearhead the PhilSys Policy and Coordination Council (PSPCC), which would be in charge of overseeing the implementation of the PhilSys.
PSPCC aims to carry out a pilot implementation in selected regions in the Philippines, which would lay down the registration process before the full five-year implementation starting 2019.
via Manila Bulletin / Argyll Cyrus Geducos
