FEB.

15, 2013

NR # 3016B

House passes Filipino Identification System Act

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure establishing an identification system that mandates every Filipino here and abroad to secure non-transferable Filipino identification cards. House Bill 6895, to be known as the Filipino Identification System Act, will enhance the integrity and reliability of government issued identification cards through the streamlining and harmonization of government identification systems, Rep. Al Francis Bichara (2nd District, Albay), the measures main author, said. Bichara said the enactment into law of the bill, which substituted HBs 131, 241, 656, 3031 and 4213, would curb the perennial problem of red tape in the government bureaucracy and simplify the processes relative to public and private services. According to Bichara, the Filipino Identification System shall be established and instituted as an economic and social tool towards the attainment of a progressive society through efficient services for all Filipinos. It ensures greater convenience for those transacting business with government, Bichara said. The bill will reduce costs and lessen the financial burden on both the government and the public brought about by the use of multiple ID cards and maintenance of redundant databases containing the same or related information, Bichara added. Under the bill, every Filipino, whether residing in the Philippines or abroad, shall be mandated to apply for a registration and issuance of a non-transferrable Filipino Identification Card at the Local Civil Registrars Office of the City or Municipality where they live. The Filipino ID, valid for at least 10 years and subject to renewal, shall be made of a tamper-proof security material and shall have on its face the imprinted photograph, name, birth date, date of issue, signature of the owner, individual serial number issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) and other necessary data. It shall have the capacity to store at least the biometric data of the individual cardholder. The application and issuance of the Filipino I.D. shall be initially free of charge as part of the government social service responsibility. The succeeding issuances shall be charged to the cardholder. The bill mandates the NSO, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through the

Philippine Embassies and Consular Offices to determine, validate and administer the data and materials required in the identification system. These government offices shall create a special unit to be responsible for accepting and processing all the applications for Filipino I.D and releasing the IDs to the applicants. Violators, who knowingly use false information in applying for the issuance of a Filipino ID, procure a card through fraud or utilize the card in an unlawful manner shall be penalized with a fine of not more than P500,000 or imprisonment of not more than 2 years or both at the discretion of the court. Other authors of the bill are Reps. Christopher Co (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Pedro Romualdo (Lone District, Camiguin), Amelita Calimbas-Villarosa (Lone District, Occidental Mindoro), Juan Edgardo Angara (Lone District, Aurora), Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), Rodel Batocabe (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Alfredo Garbin, Jr. (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Eduardo Gullas (1st District, Cebu), Romeo Acop (2nd District, Antipolo City), Angelo Palmones (Party-list, AGHAM) and Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan). (30) lvc