By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III is calling for an investigation into the backlog of national ID cards.
“The Philippine Identification System was designed to simplify and expedite the delivery of public services, but these delays undermine its purpose,” Pimentel said in a statement on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
“The root causes of the delays must be uncovered to prevent further disruptions,” he added.
In Senate Resolution No. 1192, Pimentel calls for a comprehensive review of the implementation of Republic Act No. 11055, also known as the Philippine Identification System Act.
He aims to address delays in issuing Philippine Identification (PhilID) cards and emphasizes the need to develop and execute a catch-up plan to resolve the backlog.
“Republic Act No. 11055, also known as the Philippine Identification System Act, was enacted to establish a single national identification system called the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys). This aims to promote efficient, transparent, and seamless delivery of public services, as well as to enhance administrative governance and financial inclusion,” the resolution states.
As of August 2, 2024, the PSA has recorded over 89 million registrations under the PhilSys system but has distributed only about 53 million physical PhilID cards. Pimentel noted that the backlog of 32 million cards is largely due to the limited capacity of printing facilities.
Pimentel’s resolution also seeks to uncover the underlying causes of the delays and inefficiencies in the implementation of RA No. 11055.
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