Chiz raises key points on proposed budget, delivery of National ID project

Sen.

NOTING that Malacañang is asking Congress to approve a P1.6 billion funding in the 2024 national budget to “accelerate the issuance of the National Identification Cards,” Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero intends to ask “at what speed will it be done and will it be fast enough to overtake the backlog”?

This, as the senator noted that the annual funding is lodged in the proposed P8.8 billion budget of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for 2024.

“Even President Marcos highlighted this allocation in his traditional Budget Message to Congress as a way to accelerate the issuance of the national ID card, which every citizen is mandated by law to have,” the senator said.

The lawmaker lamented, however, that while it is officially called the Philippine Information System card, popularly known by its shorthand, Phil ID, delivery has been “hobbled by delays creating a backlog in the tens of millions.”

But while the appropriations are with the PSA, the problem lies with the printer, which is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Escudero noted. “For an agency which prints money and runs the mint, this delay to the people, more so that they are compelled to register and apply for it, is unacceptable,” he said.

Of the 77.325 million who have registered as of July 7, 2023, only 41.358 million plastic cards have been printed and dispatched, of which, 34.719 million have been received by applicants.

“Yung 38.608 million printed lang sa papel.Habang1.2 million ang dino wnload nalangnilaatsilanaangnag-print,” he said.

“In this age of AI [artificial intelligence], the promised cards are being printed D-I-Y [do it yourelf]. Angdamingpangakonung binabalangkasangbatas,atnanghumihingi ng pondo.”

Escudero said that due to the delays, the people have lost enthusiasm that resulted to lower demand.

“Kayanamanhalos33 million paanghindi nagparehistro. ‘Yung targeted clientele mo mawawalantalaganggana,” he pointed out.

Escudero added he will ask the PSA and the BSP “for quantifiable targets” when they come to the Senate for the 2024 national budget hearings.

“Sa ngayon kasi, kung ang National Expenditure Program ang babasahin, vague angperformance outcome so I would like them to present a clearer target,” Escudero said.

“Una, sa Performance Information ng PSA. Ito yung parte ng proposed budget ng isang ahensya na nakalista ang mga deliverables. The absence of data on PhilID is a great omission,” he said.

Escudero said he would ask the PSA to explain the special provision in its appropriations that “it shall set a timetable to fully establish and implement the system, which shall not be later than December 31, 2024.”

“So wala na ba talaga yung original na target na end of 2023, wrap up na ang proyekto?” he asked.

Republic Act

11055, which institutionalized the national ID system, was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 6, 2018 “to much fanfare and promise,” Escudero said. “Panahon ngsilipinkunganongabaanginiunladnito paglakipasnglimangtaon,” he said.

Thursday, August 10, 2023