MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) aided the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) by starting the transport and distribution of the National Identification System (PhilSys) registration kits to 32 provincial offices of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Friday.
This after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana approved the request of Acting NEDA Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua, who sought AFP logistics and transport support for more than 4,000 registration kits to 655 cities and municipalities in target provinces, the military said in a statement Saturday.
The request aimed to ensure safe and secured transport of PhilSys registration kits, considering the limitations in interisland and provincial transportation as the community quarantine nationwide is still in effect.
The registration kits that were turned over to the AFP from NEDA last October 30, were delivered to the PSA head office in Diliman, Quezon City on November 6.
These are expected to arrive in its target provinces on or before November 12. From the PSA head office, these kits will be distributed to AFP major services.
The Philippine Army was tasked to provide logistics support and deliver the kits to PSA provincial offices in Luzon, while the Philippine Navy for the Visayas, and the Philippine Air Force for PSA provincial offices in Mindanao.
Upon reaching the delivery hubs, which are mostly in military camps, these kits will be turned over to Unified Commands and take over the distribution as well from AFP major services.
Finally, these kits will be handed over to 32 PSA provincial offices nationwide. Registration kits are expected to reach its destination before the conduct of training for the PhilSys registration operations.
Meanwhile, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay said the national ID system will promote a peaceful and secure environment as criminals, terrorists and other lawless elements will find it difficult to assume fake identities to commit crime and terrorism in the community.
“The National ID System will help us and other law enforcement agencies to curb criminality and terrorism as we can now validate and expose criminals’ identities and prevent them from hiding in other law-abiding citizens’ identities. This will also constrain and lose their freedom of movement, and they will be isolated and unable to transact business as no official identification can be presented when demanded,” he said.
Gapay said the new identification system will contribute to the whole nation's efforts of the government in ending local communist armed conflict.
"The national government may now efficiently distribute and deliver government services to its rightful recipient even in far-flung areas. The CTG (communist terrorist group)'s can no longer use the inefficient delivery of government services as a reason to deceive and recruit unknowing Filipinos,” he said. (PNA)
