Members of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) and their families have supported the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).
From October 14 to 20 at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City, 1,430 NFEM personnel and their dependents applied for the Philippine Identification (PhilID) card or the national ID.
The registration process was held in coordination with the Philippine Statistics Authority-Davao del Sur.
“The activity was in support of Republic Act (RA) No. 11055, also known as the Philippine Identification System Act, which aims to create a single national identification system for all citizens and resident aliens of the Philippines,” the NFEM said in an October 21 post.
NFEM said health protocols were strictly observed all throughout the registration process, especially the wearing of face masks and shields and physical distancing.
Those who registered online for the Step 1 demographic data were prioritized.
PhilSys is also aiming for financial inclusion for all PhilID registrants, with more than 5.7 million already with Land Bank of the Philippines accounts as of October 4.
Overall, more than 34 million have registered for a PhilID, including at least one million each from National Capital Region’s Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela), Bulacan, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, and Leyte, as of September.
Signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in August 2018, the PhilSys Act states that the national ID shall be a valid proof of identity that shall be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and the opening of bank accounts.
It also seeks to boost efficiency, especially in dealing with government services where people will only need to present one ID during transactions. (PNA)