Why PH needs a national ID system

MANILA - A Philippine congressman on Friday said the country needs a unified national ID system as another form of identification for all Filipinos.

Speaking to radio DZMM, Albay 2nd District Rep. Al Francis Bichara gives Filipinos another ID separate from their passports and driver's licenses.

"We really need a unified ID that will include our SSS number, GSIS, voter's ID number, TIN...All the relevant info," he said.

He added the card will include the person's photograph, name, birth date, gender, date of issue, signature of owner, and corresponding individual serial number issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Under the proposed measure, the Philippine Statistics Authority will be the implementing agency of the program, tasked to create and maintain a Filipino Citizen Registry.

Bichara said Filipinos can get the non-transferable ID card when they reach 18.

He said that when the ID card is presented to any government agency or for identification purposes, no other additional identification card will be required.

RADIO DZMM, May 8, 2015