‘Bank account provision must be in National ID law’

SEN. Sherwin T. Gatchalian expects an enabling law in place by January 1, 2023, requiring all Filipinos registered in the national identification (ID) system to own a bank account enabling access to government’s financial services.

This was the proposal laid down by Gatchalian in filing Senate Bill 2251, to be known as the “One Filipino, One Bank Account Act” once signed into law.

Gatchalian’s bill aims to enable all Filipinos to own a personal bank account, as provided in the proposed law.

“Lahat ng walang bank account ay siguradong magkakaroon na, basta may national ID,” he said [Everyone without a bank account will definitely have one, as long as they have a national ID.]

“Hindi na nila kailangang pumila pa para makakuha ng ayuda mula sa gobyerno dahil ilalagak na lamang sa naturang bank account ang ayuda at iba pang tulong pinansyal ng ating pamahalaan.” [They no longer have to line up to get aid from the government because the aid and other financial assistance of our government will only be deposited in such a bank account.]

Gatchalian said the enabling legislation provides that both LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) shall “automatically open and maintain” a bank account for Filipino citizens who have successfully registered with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) upon presentation of the national ID or PhilID.

The Senator suggests that those who have yet to register with PhilSys by January 1, 2023, may proceed to the nearest LandBank or DBP branch to secure a bank account by presenting other proper and acceptable government-issued IDs.

Gatchalian said the bank account shall be automatically linked with the PhilSys upon successful registration of the Filipino citizen.

Moreover, the Gatchalian bill provides that for minors or those who are incapacitated to give consent under Article 1327 of the New Civil Code, their bank accounts shall be opened and linked with the accounts of their parents, legal guardians or persons exercising substitute parental authority, as the case may be, Gatchalian said.

“Just like the way the salaries of employees are deposited in their ATMs [automated teller machines],” the Senator said, adding it will include government’s financial assistance, as well as allowances of State scholars, among others.

(Katulad ng sweldo ng mga empleyado na inilalagay sa ATM, ganito na rin ang mangyayari sa hinaharap sa pamimigay ng tulong pinansyal ng gobyerno kasama na ang mga allowance ng mga iskolar at iba pa. Mabilis, seamless at makakasiguro pa ang ating gobyerno na sa mga tamang kamay mapupunta ang mga tulong pinansyal.)