The Philippine National ID (PhilSys ID) includes a photo, full name, unique ID number, date of birth, gender, signature, QR code, and security features on the front. This ID is designed to serve as an official proof of identity for all Filipino citizens.
ILOILO CITY (PIA) – All formats of the National Identification (ID) must be honored in all government and private transactions, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has reiterated.
Likewise, the PSA reminded the public and all relevant parties of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) on the use and acceptance of the national ID card, ePhilID, and the newest digital national ID.
At the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” forum on July 23, PSA-6 OIC-Regional Director Nelida C. Amolar underscored the validity and sufficiency of the national ID as a proof of identity, subject to authentication.
She pointed out that all government offices and agencies and the private sector must honor the national ID, as provided under Republic Act (RA) 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act.
In regard to issues regarding the absence of a specimen signature on a national ID, Amolar clarified that a government-issued identification document does not bear an individual’s signature to avoid the risk of forgery.
We expect to lessen illegal and fraudulent activities by employing biometrics, such as facial features and fingerprints, and using official authentication platforms to verify the identity of the bearer, Amolar added.
For banks not honoring the National ID, Amolar said that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued memoranda urging BSP-Supervised Financial Institutions (BSFIs) to acknowledge the National ID as a sufficient proof of identity and prioritize it and its recognized formats on the list of acceptable IDs.
“We are campaigning for the use of the National ID. If rejected, please report the incident. Get the date and the name of the bank (and other details). We could write to them or reprimand them,” Amolar said.
Furthermore, she said, while PhilSys-registered Filipinos wait for their National ID cards to be delivered to their addresses, an ePhilID, which has the same functionality and validity as the physical card, may be obtained from PSA offices and mobile registration services.
Filipinos registered with PhilSys can now obtain their Digital National ID, the official digital version of the National ID, which can be easily accessed and downloaded via https://national-id.gov.ph and authenticated via https://everify.gov.ph/, she added.
Developed by the PSA and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Digital National ID will aid in faster distribution and wider utilization of the national ID across the country. (EAD-BPS/PIA Antique)
