The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) hits another milestone on 03 July 2021 with the release of 1,022,563 Philippine Identification (PhilID) cards for delivery to successful registrants. The card delivery process for the PhilID, which already reached a total 317,474 registrants as of 25 June 2021, was made possible through the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) partnership with the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost).
The issuance of the PhilID cards and PhilSys Number (PSN) is the third and final step to the PhilSys registration. The arrival of PhilIDs to the registrants’ delivery addresses marks their successful registration to PhilSys.
PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, Ph.D., National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, celebrates this critical milestone for the PhilSys. “This is yet another huge step forward for the PhilSys. We are excited for the first 1 million who will receive their PhilIDs. We are also expecting an increase in the cards we will release and deliver in the coming weeks as we ramp-up our operations,” said Undersecretary Mapa.
PhilID cards are printed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and are delivered by PHLPost, the official delivery partner of PhilSys. The first batch of PhilID cards was delivered in May 2021 across priority provinces and municipalities that have completed the previous two steps: Step 1 Registration, which involves the collection of the registrant’s demographic data and setting of appointment; and Step 2 Registration, which involves the verification of demographic information and the collection of the registrant’s biometric data such as their iris scans, fingerprint scans, and front-facing photograph.
Printed on the front side the PhilID is the PhilSys Card Number (PCN), a 16-digit serial number which can be used by the public when transacting with government or private institutions. The PhilID also features the microprinted PSN, a unique and randomly generated number assigned permanently to a registrant.
The PSA underscores that the PCN, or the public version of the PSN, should be the only number used in transactions while the PSN must remain confidential at all times, except when required by the law. Registrants are advised to safekeep their letter containing the PhilID card upon receipt as it contains the PSN, which stores confidential information. Any information found in the letter should not be shared to any public platform or figure, unless otherwise required by the law.
Under the Republic Act No. 11055 or the PhilSys Act, the PhilID card shall be accepted and recognized for government and private transactions, and shall be considered as an official and sufficient valid proof of identity.
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For the latest information on PhilSys, visit the official PhilSys website (www.psa.gov.ph/philsys) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PSAPhilSysOfficial/). You may also reach the PhilSys Registry Office via hotline number 1388 or e-mail at info@philsys.gov.ph.
