Mayors finalizing local ID system

All systems are go for the localized version of President Arroyo’s national identification system in Metro Mania as all 17 mayors begin finalizing the proposed measure.

Metro Mayors League Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad said they now only need to agree on a mechanism to be used in gathering necessary information for the ID system.

"Tuloy na tuloy na ito," Trinidad said in an interview. "We’re only working out now on the methodology of data gathering."

According to him, no mayor has raised opposition to the ID system during their meeting last Tuesday.

Trinidad added that the mayors have agreed to the proposed registration in the barangay level, which was seconded by Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes.

In the same meeting, a sample registration data sheet was also presented. Among the information required in the proposed form were the holder’s name, date of birth, address and occupation.

Trinidad said the proposed registration will be discussed during a barangay assembly on March 19. Revisions and updating of current records of barangays will also be tackled.

Under the proposed ID system, all residents of a city or municipality, including newborns, will be issued IDs that are renewable every five years.

Trinidad noted that the ID system is in its final stage of planning and would be implemented by all local government units in Metro Manila as soon as an ordinance is enacted.

The financing of the program, which is set to pave the way for a national ID system, will be shouldered by each local government unit.