National ID is now more seamless, secure, and convenient to access

 

by: Janna Pineda 

QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – Filipinos can now access and verify their national ID anytime, anywhere with the launching of the Digital National ID and the National ID eVerify on recently. 

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), with the support of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, has partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to implement the initiative of enabling the widespread adoption and acceptance of all formats of the National ID.  

During the launching of the digital transformation initiative at PSA Headquarters in Quezon City, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan highlighted that the creation of the digital version of the national ID will allow Filipinos to have easier and efficient transactions with the government, hence improving the quality of public service delivery as well as reducing the instances of bureaucratic red tape. 

“It will enable efficient identity verification to significantly improve the overall efficiency and quality of government services, especially the delivery of responsive and timely social welfare benefits,” said Balisacan. 

The digital national ID has the same validity and functionality as the physical national ID. It serves as a single proof of identity for the use of Filipinos when making transactions with the government and other entities from the private sector. 

By creating a digital counterpart, Filipinos are able to readily access their national IDs through smartphones and other portable devices for the purpose of availing healthcare, education, and social welfare programs and services.  

Meanwhile, eVerify can be used to ensure the authenticity of the national ID, whether it is the physical or digital version. 

“It is pivotal in preventing fraud, enhancing security, and protecting our citizens. Through the national ID eVerify, we are cultivating an environment of trust across the public and private spheres,” DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy explained. 

In particular, the national ID eVerify is equipped with an advanced facial recognition mechanism for real-time matching of an individual’s face and other registered information on the national ID registry.  

This seamless authentication system does not only simplify the process of identity verifications during transactions but also eliminates the need for the presentation of physical documents and in-person interaction. 

Anyone registered with the National ID is eligible to secure the digital version of their ID through the https://national-id.gov.ph/ or the eGovPH mobile application. On the other hand, the eVerify can be accessed through the https://everify.gov.ph/check. 

Other government agencies, banks, schools, local government units, and business companies can also apply to be a Relying Party of the national ID system for easier verification. Among the entities that have already applied to be a relying party include the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).  

PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa, for his part, reiterated the significance of the country’s unified national identification system in catering to the welfare needs of Filipinos.  

“The National ID is more than just an ID. It embodies our collective aspiration for the Philippines where identity is not a barrier but a bridge connecting each citizen to opportunities, resources, and services with ease and dignity,” said Mapa. 

To date, the National ID operations has successfully registered a total of 87.6 million Filipinos across the country. (JMP/PIA-NCR)