*An ID with good use to the holder,*
*not abuse from issuer Recto*

The constitutionality of a unified ID is welcome news to people who are aware that IDs guarantee benefits to the holder, said Sen. Ralph Recto of the Supreme Courts ruling on the constitutionality of the unified ID system.

Benefits, not Big Brother watching. Those are what matter to holders of any ID be they workers in government, factories or the self-employed, Recto said.

Its natural for government employees to ask what use a unified ID serves. With the SCs favorable ruling though, its governments turn to show that data from the unified ID will be put to good use, not abuse, he explained

We have yet to hear indigents refusing their enrolment in the national health insurance program, and being issue an ID, nor protestations from holders of the yellow card in Makati.

The yellow card is one of the best managed cards. No one has yet protested that it invaded their privacy or that it had been used to control their mobility. Certainly, nobody denied their identity if they wanted to enjoy the benefits of this card.

As to indigents enrolled in the National Health Insurance program, it is the government that is compelled to issue it. The benefits are entirely to the holder.

Recto insists if ever a national ID card is installed, it should evolve from the national health insurance card mandated by Republic Act 7875 or the National Heath Insurance Act of 1995 calling for universal and compulsory coverage of Filipinos.

The said law requires all citizens to enroll in the National Health Insurance System in order to avoid adverse selection and social inequity.

The Health Insurance ID Card issued by the local office of PhilHealth can identify the member, verify his eligibility, and record his utilization of benefits.

Under the said law, when a member transfers residence, he must inform PhilHealth of his new address, thus meeting the monitoring requirements of an ideal national ID, Recto said.

Recto added that the recently passed Sin Tax Law promises to bring more Filipinos into the PhilHealths fold as 2.5 percent of the annual incremental revenue or P375 million - will be used to enroll poor families. Likewise, a portion of the incremental collections from VAT could also be tapped for this purpose.