PNP welcomes nat’l ID system test run in September

FILE: MORE POLICEMEN DURING MAY POLLS. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde (center) says he will deploy 75 percent to 80 percent of their personnel to secure the May 13 mid-term polls, during the press conference after the signing of the Joint Letter Directive 01-2019 at the Tejeros Hall in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday (April 16, 2019). The letter states the delegation of election tasks of the police and the military, which will deploy some 40,000 troops for the polls. With Albayalde are AFP Chief-of Staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. (left), and Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff Abas. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed the implementation of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) or national ID system which is set for pilot testing in September.

“The PNP strongly supports the implementation of the Republic Act 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act or PhilSys which has been signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last August 2018 and it will be piloted this September as the national ID system,” PNP chief, Gen.

Oscar Albayalde told reporters during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday.

Aside from the assurance of wide-range delivery of government services and privileges, the new ID system would boost PNP’s operational thrust against terrorism, Albayalde said.

On August 6 last year, President Rodrigo R.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11055 creating PhilSys which would serve as a single official identification card for all citizens and resident aliens of the Philippines.

Under the law, the national ID shall contain a person’s PhilSys number, full name, gender, blood type, place of birth, date of birth, marital status (optional), mobile number (optional), address, front facing photo, full set of fingerprints and iris scan.

Duterte earlier said the PhilSys would boost his administration’s drive against “social menaces of poverty, corruption, and criminal issues, as well as terrorism and violent extremism”.

Pilot testing for the national ID would be from September to December 2019 wherein a substantial number of Filipinos nationwide would be registered.