HOUSE Committee on Transportation Chairman Franz Pumaren on Saturday warned that delays in the rollout of the national ID system are undermining the government’s ability to deliver timely assistance to transport workers hit by rising fuel costs, as he moved to seek a congressional probe into the program.
Pumaren raised the issue following a recent committee hearing on fuel subsidies and the service contracting program—key interventions meant to cushion the impact of the ongoing energy crisis on drivers, operators and commuters.
He said that while the government has rolled out fuel discounts, per-kilometer subsidies, and fare incentives, the effectiveness of these programs hinges on accurate identification and targeting of beneficiaries.
“Very disappointed ako sa national ID natin. Wala pang 50% ang na-distribute,” Pumaren said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
He noted that many transport workers, particularly in the informal sector, lack valid government-issued IDs, limiting their access to assistance.
“‘Yung iba walang passport, walang lisensya, kaya hirap silang makatanggap ng ayuda,” he said.
Pumaren stressed that the absence of a unified ID system continues to cause inefficiencies, data mismatches and duplication.
“Ang importante dito tamang data. Kung wala tayong maayos na identification system, mahihirapan talaga ang gobyerno sa targeting,” he added.
He also cited cases of duplicate entries and “ghost riders” flagged during the hearing, which he said could have been minimized with a fully functional national ID system.
The lawmaker said the issue is urgent as transport workers bear the brunt of volatile fuel prices.
“These are sectors na araw-araw tinatamaan ng pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo. Kailangan mabilis at tama ang tulong,” he said.
Pumaren said he will file a resolution seeking a House inquiry into the rollout of the national ID system under the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“I will file a resolution to investigate ‘yung nangyayari dyan sa PSA. Ang laki-laki ng budget—almost P700 million—pero kulang ang output,” he said.
He added that the delays run counter to lessons from the pandemic, when weak databases also slowed aid distribution.
“That should have been a learning experience for us. Hanggang ngayon, problema pa rin ang data,” Pumaren said.
Pumaren warned that without urgent reforms, the government risks repeating the same inefficiencies at a time when fast, targeted intervention is critical to protect vulnerable sectors from the energy crisis.
