Shobe_CEO » National ID System: For the Go or Forego

National ID System: For the Go or Forego

January 8th, 2008 Shobe_ceo

The case of Ople vs. Torres in 1998 paved the way to the feasibility of a National ID System. The case centers around the validity (constitutionality) of A.O. No. 308 (National Computerized Identification Reference System). It was found to be unconstitutional for posing a threat to the right to privacy. The court says that to be valid, it must be narrowly focused and a compelling interest must justify the law’s intrusion to individual rights. Moreover, intrusions into the right must be accompanied by proper safeguards and well-defined standards, which is lacking in the proposed system.

(Here is how a National ID System usually works)

Now, in a command conference in Camp Aguinaldo, the AFP has made a recommendation to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to revive the National ID System. AFP spokesperson, Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said, â€œThe recommendation for the revival of the national ID system is to accelerate accomplishing the [Presidentâ€™s] marching orders given to the AFP [to eradicate the communist insurgency by 2010].â€?

PGMA expressed her favor for using the National ID System to “provide services to our citizens”, particularly on government departments like Social Security System (SSS) or the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). The main point of its implementation would be on having a greater coordination between government agencies, with the end of overcoming the threat to our national security.

However, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said that it is not possible to implement it within the year because we are not prepared, at this moment, to use a consolidated singular ID. It would take some time to complete the system analysis of all ID schemes, but we are getting there. Hopefully, this recommendation will be approved and the law will be perfected in no time.

Entry Filed under: For the Mind,Life of Law,Philippine Cases