PRESIDENT Duterte has formalized the use and acceptance of the Philippine Identification (PhilID) and Philippine Identification system number (PSN or PhilSys Number) as sufficient proof of identity and age in all forms of transactions with government or the private sector.
The President, in signing and issuing Executive Order No. 162 last February 14, said the PhjilSys, which had been established through Republic Act 11055 in August 2018 to provide citizens and resident aliens with sufficient proof of identity, simplifies public and private transactions by eliminating the need to present multiple forms of identification.
Duterte said “there is an urgent need to institutionalize the acceptance of the PhilID and PSN, as authenticated, as sufficient proof of identity and age in all government and private transactions, to improve efficiency in the delivery of social services, strengthen financial inclusion and promote ease of doing business.”
The EO states that PhilSys shall be the government’s central identification platform for all citizens and resident aliens while an individual’s records with PhilSys shall be sufficient proof of his/her identity and age.
It added the Philippine Statistics Authority shall ensure that cardholders or holders of the PSNs will not be prejudiced if authentication cannot be performed through no fault on the part of said persons.
It also states that the acceptance of the PhilID will not foreclose the recognition and acceptance of other government-issued identification documents in government and private transactions.
The EO directs all agencies to amend their respective charters to include the PhilID in their identification requirements and integrate the PhilSys components as well as the different banks and other financial institutions to comply with the guidelines issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and other regulatory agencies on the use of PhilID, PSN or PSN Derivative.
