Philippines strengthens National ID rules amid fraud warnings and slow adoption
The Philippine government has reinforced the validity of the National ID, including its digital version, for official transactions. Banks and financial institutions must now accept it as proof of identity, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Meanwhile, authorities warn against fake services offering unauthorised printing of the ID.
The Philippines' national identification system, PhilSys, launched in August 2020 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By early 2024, around 82 million people had registered, though only about 12 million physical cards had been issued. Government agencies like SSS and PhilHealth gradually adopted the ID, but private sectors such as retail and transport have been slower to recognise it, citing verification issues.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) confirms that only three formats are valid: the physical card, the paper version, and the Digital National ID accessed via the official eGovPH app. Printing the digital ID on plastic or PVC cards is illegal, as only the PSA can issue official copies. Offenders face imprisonment of three to six years and fines ranging from ₱1,000,000 to ₱3,000,000. The PSA-Davao de Oro has urged the public to ignore misleading social media claims about printing digital IDs on plastic. Residents are also advised to report any unauthorised services offering to produce fake or unofficial versions of the ID.
The push for wider acceptance of the National ID continues, with banks now required to recognise it. However, challenges remain in private sector adoption and preventing fraud. Authorities stress that only official formats are valid, and illegal printing carries heavy penalties.
