The Philippine Online Chronicles

A new bill filed by Albay 2^nd District Representative Al Francis C. Bichara revives the proposal to issue a national voluntary information personal (VIP) card for Filipinos and resident aliens to help government agencies verify the identities of people in a quicker and more efficient way.

The card will supposedly contain the permanent serial number, name, photograph, residence address, date of birth, sex, height and weight, nationality, blood type, polling precinct, barangay/municipality/city or province, and special medical needs.

"The VIP card will protect, secure and/or save the holder from red tape in the government bureaucracy, unnecessary harassments and wastage of time and from death of permanent injuries in case of accidents or disasters," said Bichara, adding that the card may be honored in transactions requiring the identity, status, birth and other personal circumstances with any government agency such as in the application for a passport or driver’s license.

Bichara also said that the card may serve as proof of identity for admission in schools, colleges and universities, other learning institutions, and for employment purposes.

The Social Security System is already issuing unified multipurpose identification (UMID) eCards, which can be used for transactions with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), and the Philippine Postal Corp. SSS is also in talks with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to have the cards include voter data.

More than one million out of SSS’s 12-million strong customer base have already enrolled for UMID eCards.

The UMID system was created under Executive Order (EO) 420 issued by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo back in 2005 in order to simplify the ID systems of various government agencies.

"With the use of a single identification system, government agencies will be able to get rid of redundant database," said the GSIS. "The UMID system also enhances the integrity of state-issued ID cards, facilitate the public’s transactions with the government and cut costs from producing different IDs.”

"All card holders are enjoined to enroll for the UMID eCard in order to enjoy the full benefits of the card," it added.

Security concern

Some groups however, have pointed out that there are also dangers in a national ID card system.

"What worries us more is the question of who will hold the information. It is not stated in the bill. A national ID system is a very dangerous weapon to those who are vocal opposition to the inhumane policies of the state," said Amaryllis Hilao-Enriquez, secretary-general of rights group Karapatan.

Kawagib Moro human rights organization also added that the system leaves citizens open to abuse, especially people unable to get ID cards, and those who might be unfairly targeted as members of rebel groups.

According to Kawagib, the Supreme Court had already shot down a previous order to implement a national ID system back in 1998 because it violated the right to privacy and freedom of movement. Administrative Order 308 entitled "Adoption of a National Computerized Identification Reference System," was issued by former President Fidel V. Ramos and called for a computerized system, consolidated by various government agencies, for the identification of people seeking basic services and social security.

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