National ID cards backlog after 6 years ‘unacceptable’ – Lacson
Manila, Philippines — The backlogs of cards six years after the national ID system was implemented is “unacceptable,” said former senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Friday.
“Failure to fully implement the Philippine Identification System Act (RA 11055) six years after its passage is unacceptable,” Lacson said in a statement.
This is after after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) terminated its contract with AllCard Inc., the supplier of Philippine Identification System, with many Filipinos yet to receive their national IDs.
Further, Lacson added that “[it] should not end with a simple termination. Following proper legal procedures, sanctions with commensurate damages must be imposed.”
Lacson was the principal author in the Senate of the law. Prior to its passage, the former senator said that having a national ID system would help curb criminality in the country.
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Article continues after this advertisementThe BSP terminated the contract with the national ID supplier for failure to deliver obligations under the deal, causing delays in production and delivery of cards.
The central bank also flagged supplier’s violations such as failure to deliver raw materials for the cards and failure to perform “other obligations” such as timely submission of a “comprehensive and realistic” catch-up plan.
In 2020, Lacson filed a joint resolution with then Senate President Vicente Sotto III seeking for legislation inquiry to the delay of the implementation of the national ID law despite the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) being allotted over P6 billion fund since 2018.
READ: 41 million Filipinos may have to wait until 2024 to get national ID cards
PSA said on Friday that the issuance of national IDs will continue despite the recent termination of contract with the supplier.
“We affirm our unwavering commitment to delivering a reliable and secure national ID system, ensuring that every registered person will receive their National ID,” said PSA in a statement.
