To further promote its usage, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has instructed all its supervised financial institutions (BSFIs) to prioritize the Philippine Identification (PhilID) physical card and its electronic version in its list of acceptable identification.

In a memo (BSP Memorandum No. 2024-006) released Friday, Feb. 16, BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi G. Fonacier said they are doing this to promote the effective implementation of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).

The PhilID is the official government-issued ID as per Republic Act No.11055 or the PhilSys Act.

Fonacier is again reminding banks and non-banks to “adopt enhanced measures to ensure the broad acceptance of the PhilID in physical card or other recognized formats, including the ePhilID, as a valid and sufficient proof of identity and age, subject to authentication, in all financial transactions.”

The PhilID as the national ID should be the first one to be presented as identification when dealing with all national government agencies, local government units, government-owned or controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and all private sector entities, said Fonacier.

She added that BSFIs may utilize the PhilSys Check, which is an offline identity authentication tool that utilizes public-private key cryptography, to verify the authenticity of both the PhilID and ePhilID.

“Verification through the PhilSys Check requires the presentation of the PhilID or ePhilID and scanning of the QR code therein. The data stored in the QR code should match the information printed on the face of the ID to validate the identity of the registered person and the authenticity of the card,” said Fonacier.

She further reminded banks and non-banks that under two BSP memos -- Memorandum Nos. M-2021-057 and M-2022-044 - the PhilID should be top in the list of valid IDs displayed on their counters and the public entrance of their establishments, as well as on their official websites, social media pages, and other consumer information channels.

“BSFIs are enjoined to place the PhilID and ePhilID, being the official government-issued ID, on the top of the list of acceptable valid IDs to be displayed in conspicuous places within their premises and be featured in their consumer information channels and/or promotional materials,” said Fonacier.

Besides a priority ID, the PhilID is a sufficient proof of identity in lieu of a birth certificate to apply for marriage licenses; Land Transportation Office student permits and conductor’s licenses; enrollment for kindergarten, first grade, and Philippine Educational Placement Test passers; as well as Professional Regulation Commission and Bar Licensure Examinations.

Last year, the BSP even encouraged BSFI customers to report to the BSP if any of the banks or non-banks they transact with will not accept PhilID.  

Since 2021, the BSP has instructed all banks and non-banks to accept the national ID as sufficient proof of identity to open a bank account.

The BSP in the past received random reports of banks refusing to accept the PhilID to validate a depositor’s identity because the card itself does not display the person’s signature.

The BSP refers these banks or non-banks that do not accept the national ID to its Financial System Integrity Department (FSID), formerly known as the Anti-Money Laundering Specialist Group, for investigation.