Philippine Identification System

On 06 August 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law R.A. No. 11055, otherwise known as the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act, which seeks to establish a government’s central identification platform for all citizens and resident aliens of the Philippines.

The PhilSys aims to ease availability of government services by eliminating the need to present other forms of identification when transacting with the government and the private sector.

All Filipino citizens and resident aliens shall register personally, upon presentation of birth certificate or proof of residence for aliens, with the following registration centers one (1) year after the effectivity of the law:

1. PSA Regional and Provincial Offices;
2. Local Civil Registry Offices;
3. Government Service Insurance System;
4. Social Security System;
5. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation;
6. Home Development Mutual Fund;
7. Commission on Elections;
8. Philippine Postal Corporation;
9. Philippine Embassy/Philippines Foreign Service post (for non-resident Filipino Citizens); and
10. Other government agencies as assigned by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

However, Individuals born after the law takes effect shall be registered upon birth or registration by the PSA.

Upon registration, a PhilSys Number (PSN), which is a randomly, generated, unique, and permanent identification number, will be assigned. Thereafter, the government will issue a Philippine Identification card (PhilID) which will feature the bearer’s PSN, name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, blood type, address, citizenship, marital status (optional), front facing photograph. The additional information collected and stored under the PhilSys include the mobile number (optional), E-mail address (optional), full set of fingerprints, iris scan, and other identifiable features as may be determined by the PSA.

The PhilID/PSN can be used in all transactions requiring proof identity, such as, but not limited to:

1. Application for eligibility and access to social welfare and benefits;
2. Application for services and benefits offered by GSIS, SSS, PhilHealth, and other government agencies;
3. Applications for passports and driver’s license;
4. Tax-related transactions;
5. Registration and voting identification;
6. Admission to government hospitals or similar institutions;
7. Application for admission in schools and other learning institutions;
8. Application for employment;
9. Opening of bank accounts and other transactions with financial institutions; and
10. Verification of criminal records and clearances.

The PSA will conduct a pilot implementation in selected regions in the Philippines. According to PSA, the pilot test aims to “lay down the registrationprocess prior to the full 5-year implementation.”