May 27, 2018; Politiko.com.ph

http://politics.com.ph/lacson-admits-%E2%80%8Bnational-id-not-mandatory-may-take-five-years-to-complete/

Even if it becomes a law soon, Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Sunday said it will take time before a national identification (ID) system is realized.

For one, the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) cards will not be compulsory to each and every Filipino and resident aliens, he said.

“Optional ito pero magiging inconvenience. Mapag-iiwanan siya,” Lacson said in an interview with dzBB, referring to those who will opt not to avail of it.

“Halimbawa may nakasabay sila gusto mag-secure ng loan sa bangko. Sabay sila dumating sa bangko, siya hahanapan pa ng dalawang government-issued IDs. Samantalang itong kasabay niya ibibigay lang serial number o ipapakita ang PhilSys ID card, mauna yan na maaprubahan. Ang na-issue-han ng national ID mabilis lang ang transaction at sa pagbigay ng benepisyo baka mapagiwanan din siya,” he said.

The senator, who sponsored the bill, said that the measure aims to reward, not to punish cardholders and make life easy, not difficult.

“(Ito ay) para di ka abalahin kundi mapabliis, para maging madali ang buhay mo. Bakit pahirapin ang buhay mo eh samantalang pwede padalian?” he pointed out.

But based on the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) timeline, the government has sought a five-year budget amounting to P25 billion.

“Pero sabi ng PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) baka kulangin ang P25 billion kasi ang security safeguards baka aabutin ng P40 billion.

“At saka ang five years, ito ang target. Pero ang India matagal na silang meron na. Pero five​ ​years di pa nila nakumpleto. Of course bilyon ang mamamayan sa India. Pero tayo tinitingnan natin lahat ma-maximize ang nagrerehistro. So di pwedeng pwersahin mo in five years ang 109 million Filipinos meron na lahat na ID,” the senator explained

The measure entails setting up “centers” all over the country where applicants can secure the PhilSys ID.

“I’m sure ang PSA, gagawin ang lahat na paraan para mailapit ang paparehistro sa mga tao, di tao ang pupunta pa o maabala pa na pupunta ng malayo para magparehistro,” he said.