Phil ID: key enabler for moving ahead

The acceleration of digital transformation is one of the significant beneficial developments triggered by the pandemic. Day-to-day transactions, especially online buying and selling of food, medicines and other essential goods and services are now facilitated by digital technology.

Most importantly, the components of an effective response to COVID-19 — namely, prevention, detection, isolation and tracing — are mediated and enabled by digital tools.

This is the context in which the Philippine Identification System (Philsys) — or simply put, the Phil ID — project of the government must be appreciated. Recall that when enhanced community quarantine was first imposed in March last year, the government required mass media employees to obtain special identification cards. Likewise, even manual workers were required to present proof of identity at police checkpoints.