PSA, DICT launch Digital National ID

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday launched the Digital National ID, which should be accepted as a valid proof of identification that can be accessible through mobile devices with an internet connection.

Under the program, anyone registered to the national ID system can access and view their Digital National ID through the official website or through the mobile application, which requires users to input their demographic information and facial verification.

At present, there are over 87 million Filipinos registered to the national ID, whose identity can also be verified by government agencies and private establishments through the online platform.

“With these developments, every registered Filipino now has improved access to a reliable and secure proof of identity that can be easily authenticated on their devices,” PSA undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa said in a statement.

“This will facilitate the faster distribution and wider utilization of the National ID, with relying parties finding it easier to onboard to the National ID system,” he added.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018 signed into law the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act, which seeks to harmonize, integrate, and interconnect redundant government IDs by establishing a single national identification system.

The Digital National ID was launched in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which is tasked to develop and promote the national ICT development agenda.

“This modern identification system will streamline transactions, improve service delivery, and ultimately make doing business easier for everyone,” DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News