By Lilian C. Mellejor
Members of the City Council here have expressed support to the barangay identification (ID) system ahead of the National ID System being pushed by the national government.
While the barangay ID system is mainly for security purposes, Councilor Ma. Belen Acosta on Tuesday said this can also be helpful, mostly to informal workers.
Acosta, the chairperson of the Committee on Public Safety, said the informal workers include those who conduct immediate repairs of electricity connection and minor construction works in the neighborhood.
Acosta said these workers do not normally have valid government IDs , for example from the Social Security System (SSS), because of the nature of their work.
Acosta said the barangay IDs can be included as among the recognized government identification cards, as long as these are signed by the barangay captain.
City Council Majority Floorleader J Melchor Quitain Jr. said there are already about 15 barangays that have passed resolutions requiring their residents to secure IDs.
However, Quitain opposed one barangay resolution that calls for persons with pending criminal cases not to be issued with the proposed ID. He said this runs counter to the "presumption of innocence" doctrine, which says everyone is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
The barangay ID system started after the declaration of martial law last year to identify residents and transients.
Identification cards have been required after the city police intensified its anti-criminality and terrorism campaign first under the Oplan Bulabog, then the Oplan Kalinaw. Persons with no IDs are profiled by the barangays.
Both Quitain and Acosta believe the localized ID system can be a tool for peace and order pending the approval of the National ID system.
The House of Representatives and the Senate ratified their own versions of the National Identification (ID) system. The proposed bill seeks to integrate and interconnect some 30 redundant government IDs by coming out with one national ID system, or PhilSys which will have three components -- the PhilSys Number, the PhilID and PhilSys Registry.
The PhilID will be a non-transferable card containing on its face the PSN, full name, facial image, date of birth, address and fingerprints of the individual.
(Reposted from Philippine News Agency website. Original title: Davao City dads back barangay ID system)
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