https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/994176/national-id-system-infringes-on-right-to-privacy-solons
There is a proposed National ID system that is currently being debated in the Philippine Congress. The funny thing is that this has been debated upon for a long time now and has been around since even before President Duterte. What is the debate behind this system and why do some still feel that this will lead to a violation of their privacy?
(Source: Image not mine. Found in various Facebook posts)
A National ID system, put simply, would combine all the different government issued IDs into one system. Off the top of my head (and within my wallet), I can cite several IDs that this would hopefully replace: my SSS card (or UMID ID), which grants access to SSS and Philhealth; my driver's license; my PRC license (for my rarely used CPA licensure); my voter's ID; and the postal ID, supposedly the least difficult government ID to obtain. In the past, each of those government services have had to issue their own identification as there is no one database for us Filipinos.
On the downside, Filipinos don't really have much faith that their private data in some large massive database will not fall into the wrong hands. Why is that? Because we've already had the experience of our private data being sold off to recruiters, telemarketers, etc. And this is not even mentioning how bad the government's IT systems are, which does not give its citizens much confidence that the data will be protected.
(Source: http://fizmarble.com/tag/government-totalitarian-1984-big-brother/)
On a related note, it doesn't really make that much of a difference in the masses' lives right now. With Facebook and other social media, most people's critical data is now online and there are worse ways to have this exploited that the "Big Brother" government using it. How many of us have submitted their information and even credit card numbers online?
Still, it remains a real and veritable threat for most people, especially ones that are critical of the current administration. And we have no shortage of horror stories of identity theft in the country to think of...
Nevertheless, a National ID system is a long time in coming and a real need for our country. Having all of one's government related information in just one database will not necessarily solve all the problems with government service... but hopefully, it would make it easier and reduce the amount to be paid in fees for the masses.
