Lawmaker: National ID should be fast-tracked

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian has stressed that the government needs to fast track the implementation of the national ID system for a quicker health and calamity response in the future to prevent a repeat of the mistakes committed in tracing persons suspected with Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections.

Gatchalian recalled during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health assessing the Philippine government’s preparedness on the outbreak of Covid-19 last February that Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd admitted that they encountered difficulties tracing people who came in contact with Covid-19 patients because some have incomplete or erroneous contact details listed with airline companies.