Fully digital gov’t records pushed

A PHILIPPINE SENATOR called for the full digitalization of the government’s civil registry system to avoid fraud in official records.

“The way to solve it is digitalization from end to end, from the hospital and the local civil registry up to the central data system, so we can detect anomalies faster,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement.

He added that this full digitalization of government records would close the loophole used by foreigners to legitimize illegal activities in the country.

Mr. Gatchalian added that the move would enhance transparency and prevent fraud in official records.

“We also need to hold accountable the officials who enabled this. Let’s plug the gaps,” he said.

Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority, the senator said that a total of 1,472 birth certificates from foreign entities conducting illegal activity in the Philippines have been cancelled. — Adrian H. Halili