FAT wallets may get slimmer this year and the economic crunch may not be exactly the reason.
Wallets fattened by an assortment of identifications cards may be in for a major trim when the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), and Home Development Mutual Fund (PagIbig) signs a memorandum of agreement salted in March to come up with an all-access card.
The unified identification system, which at least four government agencies are implementing would constitute the national identification (ID) system, revealed SSS administrator Romulo Neri.
Neri, who is spearheading the national ID system, made the announcement during the signing of Republic Act 9903, condoning penalties on un-remitted SSS premium contributions by employers, in reports carried by national papers.
“By March, we will be printing two million IDs,” said Neri. “We expect to print 12 million IDs in five years,” said Neri, as quoted by national media.
Initially, the unified ID system was also proposed for the poll automation of the Commission on Election (Comelec).
“Since Comelec has not completely finished its registration and other concerns, then we strongly doubt we can push through with it. Besides, we do not want to make it appear that we are doing this for the election,” Neri accordingly said.
The national ID system was revived by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in January 2007 during a command conference with President Arroyo at Camp Aguinaldo.
In September 2008, the SSS spearheaded the project with a common reference number to be issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) based on its database. (PIA)
PRESS RELEASE
REY ANTHONY CHIU
Philippine Information Agency
Tagbilaran City Information Center
411 2292 / 0920 954 5482 / 501 8554 email: piabohol171@yahoo.com