SSS, Philpost tie up for unified ID system

The Social Security System (SSS) has tied up with the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) to widen the coverage of a new identification system that will facilitate public transactions with government agencies. During Tuesday's signing of the deal with Philpost, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said that under the tie-up both agencies will use a unified ID system. "The partnership with Philpost widens the usage of the ID card, which will also pave the way for electronic-based remittance services for workers overseas through the Philpost in the future," he said. The ID card will allow SSS members to get their pensions, loans and benefits through the Philpost's nationwide network of about 2,200 post offices, more than half of which also function as money transfer offices. Neri said the SSS would provide Philpost a P1-billion loan using real estate properties as collateral, for the upgrade and development of the Philpost's remittance system. SSS, the lead agency tasked to implement the unified ID system, is rolling out the first wave of the cards in March, initially for members of the SSS and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Neri said the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, and even the Commission on Elections, would soon be covered by the system. The target is to produce 12 million cards in the next five years for P1.689 billion, Neri said. The shift to the unified system upgrades the present SSS ID system, which has been using the same card technology since it was introduced over a decade ago. Last month, the SSS and All Cards Consortium, the controversial group that won the bid to produce the cards, signed a deal to make 12 million IDs. The consortium, led by its main proponent the All Cards Plastics Philippines, is joined by Stradcom Corporation and Teco Electric and Machinery Company. Neri noted that once the unified ID system is out in March, SSS would no longer use the existing ID cards for its members. Each card will cost P140, but the agencies would shoulder the cost of the project and would not pass this on to members, Neri said. "We will not charge the members because it's part of our service." — GMANews.TV