Government moves closer to national ID system

MANILA, Philippines – A national identification system is in the offing.

The Social Security System (SSS) is leading other government agencies in drawing up guidelines for a unified ID and is starting the bidding for its manufacture.

Romulo Neri, SSS president and chief executive officer, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Rey Aquino, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) president and chief executive officer; Jaime Fabiana, Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) officer-in-charge; and Winston Garcia, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general manager, for this purpose.

The four agencies have agreed to pool funds to start bidding out the contract for the production of a unified ID, with the SSS as the lead agency in conducting the bid.

Launched last year, the Unified Multi-Purpose ID System (UMID) requires all government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations to streamline and harmonize their identification systems.

The program is being implemented by the National Economic and Development Authority.

The UMID also aims to enhance the integrity of state-issued ID cards, facilitate the public’s transactions with the government, and cut costs from producing different IDs.

Under the project, the four agencies will adopt a common ID card with a common reference number to be issued by the National Statistics Office.

The social security identification system is the core of the UMID system. The card would also make use of the automated fingerprint ID system.

The GSIS is a pioneer in the issuance of multi-purpose cards through its eCard Plus. –Helen Flores, Philippine Star