MANILA – The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) could facilitate the distribution of much-needed government assistance especially during national emergencies, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Covid-19, said Tuesday.
Galvez, also presidential adviser on peace process, said the national ID system could have been beneficial in emergency response such as the management of the current health crisis in the country.
“We believe that having a national ID system in place will be crucial, especially at this time when the government carries out measures to curb the spread and mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the nation transitions to the new normal,” he said.
Galvez also said a strong push of having a national ID system for all Filipinos could have helped the government address the issues over contact-tracing.
If the national ID is already in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, Galvez said the government could have quickly and effectively identified potential carriers of the disease to isolate them from crowded communities.
“This is the reason why President Rodrigo Duterte has strongly pushed for the national ID system, as he foresaw the possibility of such emergency situations arising during his term,” he said.
Galvez said the Philsys could have been an invaluable tool the government can use to further boost the capability of various line-agencies to respond to the health crisis.
“As President Duterte has pointed out, we would have avoided all the problems we are experiencing now, particularly in the distribution of government aid, if the national ID system is already being implemented,” he said.
The Philsys aims to promote seamless delivery of service to improve the efficiency, transparency, and targeted delivery of public and social services.
The system also aims to establish a single national identification system for all Filipino citizens including the resident aliens. -PNA
