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ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanews/24 July) – The Social Security System (SSS) is set to replace the current identification cards (IDs) of its members with new IDs that would help facilitate transaction and protect the agency from fraud, SSS Regional Assistant Vice-President for Branch Operations Rodrigo Filoteo said.
Filoteo said they will start issuing the new Unified Multi-purpose Identification system or “UMID cards” to the members before the end of this month.
He said the UMID card utilizes biometric technology and finger print matching to establish the identity of the card holder. The card has a magnetic strip and a contactless chip embedded which stores the card holders’ personal information data.
Apart from being an ID, it will also be a transaction card that will eventually enable the holder to withdraw benefits and other loan proceeds from automated teller machines (ATMs).
Filoteo said the current cards of the SSS members will still be honored when the members transact business with the agency until the member gets the new card.
He said other government agencies such as the Government Service Insurance System, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG have joined the UMID, system allowing card members to transact business with the three agencies utilizing the same SSS UMID cards.
Critics have earlier pointed to the UMID as the start of a national ID system.
But Filoteo said the new card is just a protective measure to ensure fraud-free transactions. (MindaNews)
