Five state agencies adopt multi-purpose ID system

The Social Security System will release the first two million unified multi-purpose identification cards in March, with four other state agencies adopting it for their common use.

SSS president and chief executive Romulo Neri said his agency has ordered a total of 12 million ID cards to be distributed to its members over the next five years.

Neri said the pension fund was in talks with the Commission on Elections and the Philippine Postal Corp. for UMID cards to be recognized as voter’s and postal ID, respectively.

The UMID card will be recognized by SSS, Pag-Ibig (or Home Development Mutual Fund), National Statistics Office, Government Service Insurance System and the Philippine Health Corp.

Initially, the UMID was expected to cost the agencies P250 per card but the winning supplier said it could provide cards for P140 per unit.

The contract was awarded to a joint venture composed of Stradcom, All-Card and Taiwanese manufacturer Teco, which submitted the lowest bid of P1.69 billion.

The unified ID system aims to save cost on the part of the government and the public in producing multiple ID cards as well as maintaining redundant databases. Joyce Pangco Pañares, Manila Standard Today