A staff of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) collects biometrics from a student at the Papaya Elementary School in Nasugbu, Batangas on May 12, 2023 as part of the National ID School Registration Campaign. Domcar C. Lagto, ABS-CBN News/File  

At least 50 million physical national IDs have been delivered nationwide, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday.

Deputy National Statistician Fred Sollesta said this was on top of the 45 million digital ePhilIDs that have been released to supplement the delivery of the physical national ID cards.

Meanwhile, at least 85 million Filipinos have registered for their national IDs, Sollesta said.

“Mga nasa 60 percent plus na tayo sa printing ng ating physical card. But more importantly, iyong mga citizens natin na hindi pa nakatanggap ng physical card na nakatanggap ng ePhilID ay substantial na rin… Kung titingnan mo iyong numbers, nag-o-overlap na nga and nagamit na nila sa mga transactions. So just the same kasi, iyong sa ePhilID at saka sa Phil ID ay pareho lang iyong functionality, wala siyang pagkakaiba; iyong format lang iyong nagkakaiba,” Sollesta said.

(We are about 60 plus plus in the printing of our physical card. But more importantly, our citizens who have not yet received a physical card and have received an ePhilID instead are substantial... If you look at those numbers, they are already overlapping and have already been used in transactions. So it's just the same, the ePhilID and the one Phil ID have the same functionality, there is no difference; only the format is different.)

The official warned the public to be wary of Facebook posts falsely claiming that those with national IDs are entitled to a P5,000 financial assistance from the government. He said having a national ID does not immediately qualify one to receive government aid.

“So iwasan ang pag-click kung may mga suspicious link ito, at pagbigay ng mga personal na impormasyon kapalit ng pera. Maaari pong makita sa PhilSys website,” he said.

(So avoid clicking if it has suspicious links and giving personal information in exchange for money. You can verify information on the PhilSys website.)

“So nais din naming linawin na ang pag-register sa PhilSys kasi, ang pagkakaroon ng Phil ID or ePhilID ay hindi nangangahulugan na kuwalipikado ang sino man para makatanggap sila ng cash benefit o assistance mula sa gobyerno tulad ng mga social protection program. So hinihikayat namin iyong publiko na i-report sa PSA ang kahit anong impormasyon tungkol sa mga indibidwal o grupo na sangkot sa mga ganitong gawain,” the official continued.

(We also want to clarify that registering with PhilSys and having a Phil ID or ePhilID does not mean that anyone is qualified to receive cash benefits or assistance from the government such as social protection programs. So we encourage the public to report to the PSA any information about individuals or groups involved in such activities.)

Sollesta said the National ID could only be used as valid proof of identity to apply for government programs, and that the eligibility of an individual for these programs would still be determined by the agency itself.

Meanwhile, the Philippine government is looking at reports of the non-acceptance of national IDs as valid proof of identity by public agencies and financial institutions.

“In most cases iyong mga non-acceptance na nangyayari, especially sa ating mga provincial offices, sometimes medyo hindi lang na-cascade ng maayos siguro ng kanilang mga main offices iyong acceptance ng ating national  ID. And after coordinating with them, the office na concerned ay nalilinawan naman at saka niri-remind iyong mga institution na iyon lalo na iyong sa mga probinsiya na tinatanggap na iyon, kasi iyong central office nila ay nagbigay na rin ng mga advisory,” Sollesta said.

(In most cases those non-acceptance that happen, especially in our provincial offices, sometimes their acceptance of our national ID may not have been properly cascaded by their main offices. And after coordinating with them, we remind those institutions, especially those in the provinces that already accept national IDs, because their central office has issued advisories.)

“Also, iyong Civil Service Commission before ay nag-issue na iyan ng mga memorandum together with the DILG sa LGUs naman regarding sa acceptance ng national  ID. And in fact, inaano namin, ipino-promote namin, sinusulatan namin iyong mga institutions, mga ahensiya na as much as possible ilagay sa number one talaga na list ng acceptable ID iyong ating national  ID,” he continued.

(Also, the Civil Service Commission previously issued a memorandum together with the DILG to the LGUs regarding the acceptance of the national ID. And in fact, we encourage, we promote, we write to those institutions, agencies that as much as possible put our national ID on the number one list of acceptable IDs.)