MANILA — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) emphasized on Monday that the digital version of the national ID holds the same importance as the physical ID.
This reminder follows a halt in the production of physical identification cards after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) terminated its contract with AllCard, Inc. (ACI).
According to PSA Assistant National Statistician Emily Pagador, out of nearly 90 million registered Filipinos, only 55 million physical cards have been printed. This leaves approximately 35 million registered individuals without a physical card.
Pagador stressed that the digital ID is just as effective as the physical card, especially in today’s digital age, where most services are now accessed digitally.
“At the end of the day hindi na natin kakailanganin talaga physical because of the digital aspect of our national ID platform. We always go back to – they can access their national ID already and enjoy the benefits of being registered to the national ID system,” Pagador said during the 3rd Philippine Identity Summit in Quezon City.
The digital ID can be accessed via the eGov mobile phone application, and Pagador emphasized that establishments should recognize and accept this form of identification. She urged the public to report any establishments that refuse to honor the digital ID.
“It should not be about the cards that we issue. If ako pumunta sa isang opisina even without a physical card, my identity will be verified,” she said.
The BSP, responsible for printing the national IDs, ended its contract with ACI due to the latter’s failure to fulfill its contractual obligations. ACI was expected to provide the necessary equipment, raw materials, and technical support. The issue is currently undergoing arbitration.
During the Philippine Identity Summit, the Philippine Digital ID Experience Lab was also launched. This initiative, a collaboration between the PSA, University of the Philippines Diliman, and the Modular Open Source Identity Platform, aims to explore the use of the national ID and expand its applications across various sectors.