Padilla eyes automatic reservist registration amid security risks

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robinhood Padilla has sought the automatic reservist registration for eligible Filipinos as a preparation for possible security emergencies, cybersecurity threats, and climate-related disasters.

Padilla filed Senate Bill No. 2042 which seeks to amend the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act by automatic military registrations of Filipinos aged between 18 and 25 through government databases, such as the Philippine Identification System.

Padilla pointed out the natural calamities that hit the country every year, as well as the tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and the West Philippine Sea.

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“We don’t wish for a war before we come prepared. The real measurement of a stable country is its preparedness before any crisis occurs,” Padilla said in a press release.

“In every calamity, earthquake, typhoons, flooding, or national emergency, the first question we hear: are our manpower and preparedness enough?” Padilla added.

He then noted that the automatic registration through government records will eliminate the administrative burden of Filipinos, such as personal appearance and manual filling up of forms. He added that the bill will adhere to data privacy and data protection laws while the Department of National Defense maintains the database.

However, he clarified that “the measure does not create a standing army nor automatically place citizens into active military service. He emphasized that the bill “seeks to establish a more efficient, accurate, and updated registry of citizens who may be called upon for military, civil defense, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, or other forms of national service when necessary.

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The senator also said that the registration covers Filipinos living abroad by integrating government databases such as passport records. He added that overseas Filipinos can update their information through verified channels.

“Every citizen has a role to fight for the country. The government’s responsibility is to ensure an organized, efficient, and modern way to support this role,” he expressed. /mr

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