Some Filipinos who have not yet received their physical national identification (ID) card can now download a digital version, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) public advisory on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

“This is to inform the public and all relying parties of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) on the use and acceptance of the various formats of the PhilSys digital ID, including the printed ePhilID (electronic Philippine ID), as a valid and sufficient proof of identity and age, subject to authentication,” PSA said in a public advisory posted on its website.

PSA said the PhilSys digital ID is its proactive strategy to allow registrants to immediately enjoy the benefits of being PhilSys-registered, such as better access to more financial and social protection services pursuant to Section 7 (c) (1) of Republic Act (RA) 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act of 2018.

It announced that registrants who have successfully registered with PhilSys or those issued with PhilSys Number (PSN) may avail of the ePhilID in its various formats.

“They can claim their ePhilID subject to its availability, by setting an online appointment, and presenting their transaction slip to their selected PhilSys Registration Centers on the reserved date,” PSA said.

It pointed out that the printed ePhilID shows the person’s PhilSys Card Number (PCN) and basic demographic information such as last name, given name, middle name and suffix (if available), sex, blood type, marital status (if declared), date and place of birth, front-facing photograph, address, generation date, and a QR Code.

It noted that the QR code contains select demographic details and the registrant’s front-facing photograph for easier verification.

It also uses public-private key cryptography to ensure that the information in the QR code cannot be tampered with, PSA said.

The printed ePhilID can be authenticated by scanning the QR code via the PhilSys Check, verify.philsys.gov.ph/QrScan/.

“If the ePhilID is authentic, the PhilSys Check will display a successful verification message and should match the demographic information found in the printed, as well as a front-facing photo of the person,” PSA said.

It also said that the printed ePhilID will be honored and accepted as the official government-issued identification document of a person for his or her transactions in all national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), government financial institutions (GFIs), financial institutions, and private sector.

“Any person or entity who, without just and sufficient cause, proved to have refused to accept, acknowledge, and/or recognize the printed ePhilID as the only official identification of the holder/possessor thereof shall be penalized in accordance with Section 19 of RA No. 11055,” PSA said.