Philippine Identification System Act needs at least P30 bn for complete implementation

The remaining amount will be used for maintenance and operating costs including crafting of the communication plan and the consulting services.

Philippine Identification System Act needs at least P30 billion in order to fully implement the system within three to five years as revealed by National Statistician Lisa Bersales.

During a press briefing, Bersales said they are hoping to cover are Filipinos under the Philippine Identification System Act within next few years. The system she says is not mandatory.

She further added: "We only have an indicative budget. It's just an estimate. It's not yet that firm, but we expect that we'll be spending 30 billion for the three to five years." She said:" In three to five years… ma-register na Lahat Tayo na existing people."

For the first phase of the national ID system, P2 billion budget would be used.

Out of P2 billion fund, P1.4 billion will be used for procuring ICT system for the national ID. The remaining amount will be used for maintenance and operating costs including crafting of the communication plan and the consulting services.

"Actually, Hindi po explicit sa law na mandatory ito. No one will be forced to enroll in the national ID system." She added: "However, they will have difficulty in doing business with government and the other private sector eventually because the requirement for doing business will be the national ID. So it's really more about accessing benefits."

Talking about the growing trend of privacy risk, she said an inidividual's basic information can only be shared with another only by the consent of either user or by court orders.