TOPIC: Resolve that, National ID system be implemented in the Philippines

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

I am the third speaker and my focus will be the beneficiality of the National ID System.

The past speakers have already mentioned in broad strokes on the benefits of a National ID System in the Republic of the Philippines. They have mentioned the benefits of a National ID System to our citizen's health, smoother and easier commercial transactions, and the maintenance of order and civility.

My fellow citizens, we are humble and reasonable enough to admit that there are disadvantages in this system but we believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Naturally, the beneficiaries will be the Filipino citizens, regardless of their social status.
Transactions would be faster and easier when there is a National ID. Most of the time when processing necessary documents it is hard to present addition proofs of identity and supporting documents because not all people have SSS cards, health cards, or drivers' licenses. A person will not be deprived of his rights just because he fails to present his ID. The authorities simply need verifications. To be frank, this measure is for public safety purposes, to avoid business frauds, and to prevent terrorists from mingling with ordinary people in disguise.

It is up to the Congress to draft the provisions that will be followed in a law for its implementation.

To make it more fool-proof and more difficult to hack, fingerprint information will also be included.Perhaps the most prominent group among the critics are the communists mainly the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its renegade armed wing the New People's Army as well as other militant groups.

These brigands and bandits cry "that it is a violation of their human rights".

How is it a violation I ask you? We have always given our names, your addresses, and other data like those to our teachers, to websites, and other public documents...That is no violation.

Perhaps the primary reason why these brigands fear the National ID System is that it will restrict their recruiters and propagandists from spreading their lies. The access to a person's biodata will be shared completely with law enforcement agencies and this will be the only instance where an agency has full access on a person's dossier...plain and simple.

The revised National ID System states that the encoding of data may not be limited to biological information alone for identification purposes. The Solicitor General’s claim that the adoption of the Identification Reference System will contribute to the “generation of population data for development planning” is further proof that the system can also be used for the generation of other useful data. The computer linkage gives other government agencies access to the information, but there will be safeguards in the form of firewalls and authorizations to prevent leakage of information. As a matter of fact, the National ID System works both ways. Government leaders know more about their citizens and citizens are able to know more about their elected leaders, since even they must have IDs.

Citizens of the Republic! The government is not after your secrets or your privacy, we wish only for your welfare and safety!