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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 19) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday urged Filipinos to take advantage of the government’s national identification system.
In a prerecorded speech during the ceremonial event, the country’s top leader asked the public to participate in the mass registration of the Philippine Identification System or PhilSys.
“As we continue with this long-awaited project, I ask all Filipinos to give PhilSys a chance,” Duterte said. “Therefore, we can maximize the benefits of a universal and secure database that will make transactions more efficient and our lives more convenient.”
Duterte also assured that the national identification system “will maintain the privacy of all personal information.”
As the country continues its fight against COVID-19, Duterte said Filipinos must still observe health protocols when registering for identification.
As of December, 10.6 million Filipinos have already pre-registered for the first step of PhilSys, which includes the collection of demographic information, such as gender, date of birth, blood type and address. That first step allows households to schedule an appointment to capture biometric data: fingerprints, iris scan, and photography.
The government began conducting its house-to-house collection last October, covering low-income households residing in low-risk COVID transmission areas in 32 provinces. On Friday, the government said it will soon allow the public to register online.
Late last year, Duterte said he wanted 92 million Filipinos to have a “legal identity” at the end of his term.
READ: Duterte wants 92 million Filipinos to receive identification by the end of his term in 2022
RELATED: Duterte Approves Additional Funds of ₱ 3.52-B for National ID System
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