Manila: Filipinos recently affected by calamities can use the National ID to apply for and claim calamity assistance from various institutions, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said Friday. "The National ID, as a foundational ID, is designed to serve as a valid proof of identification, providing access to essential government services, especially in times of crisis. The government is ready to provide aid and the National ID is a valid proof of identity that Filipinos can rely on and use in their transactions," Mapa said in a news release.
According to Philippines News Agency, Mapa emphasized that the National ID system can streamline processes, which is crucial in providing immediate delivery of services to those in need and ensuring that there is no duplication in the provision of aid. With the National ID, registered persons in select low-lying and flood-prone communities can apply for cash aid through the agency's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program.
The database of such programs is part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Digital Exchange - Client's Link of Unified Data (Dx-CLOUD), a National ID system-integrated platform that streamlines beneficiary validation. DxCLOUD helps eliminate duplicate records, makes it easier to verify identities, and keeps a detailed history of the assistance provided to each program beneficiary.
The National ID can also be presented for calamity loan application or availment of a one-month moratorium on amortization payments at the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and its attached agencies such as the Social Housing Finance Corporation, the National Housing Authority, and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation. Home Mutual Development (Pag-IBIG) Fund members may also present the National ID as a supporting document in applying for emergency loans and housing loan insurance claims for material damage.
For micro, small, and medium enterprises, Small Business Corporation (SBCorp) opened Enterprise Rehabilitation Financing facilities in areas under a state of calamity. Mapa stated that loan applications can be done through the SBCorp Money app, where the National ID is honored for account creation and identity verification is done through the authentication services of the National ID.
Assistant Secretary Rosalinda Bautista, Deputy National Statistician of the PhilSys Registry Office, reminded government agencies and private institutions to honor the National ID and integrate with authentication services for more efficient assistance for Filipinos affected by disasters. "Through the PSA's efforts towards establishing use cases and integration, we are now seeing how the National ID can help Filipinos in times of calamities," Bautista said.
Signed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2018, Republic Act 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act establishes a single national ID for Filipinos and resident aliens. It is a valid proof of identity and a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and opening of bank accounts.
