The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said that national identification (ID) cards with clerical errors cannot be corrected at this time.
In a statement, the PSA said that updating or correcting demographic information in the Philippine National Identification System (PhilID) is currently not feasible.
One issue confronting the National ID system is the lengthy delivery time for physical IDs, which can extend beyond a year after registration.
The extended waiting period poses a problem as some registrants may experience marital status or address changes during this time.
“Please wait for further announcements on the full rollout of the updating or correction of demographic information,” PSA said.
The PSA, meanwhile, cautioned the public against re-registering for the national ID to correct or update their information.
According to the PSA, registering for a second national ID is strictly prohibited, as it could disrupt the standard verification processes necessary for ID issuance.
“There is no need to re-register should the registered person encounter clerical errors in their National ID,” PSA said.
In a related development, the PSA said the agency and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) verified over one million Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries using the National ID.
As of May 8, 2024, 1,010,464 4Ps beneficiaries have been authenticated through the National ID system.
During Family Development Sessions (FDS), beneficiaries undergo fingerprint scanning, cross-referenced with the National ID registry for identity verification. Each verification serves as attendance for the FDS sessions.
FDS sessions are mandatory for all Pantawid families and aim to promote positive family values while strengthening marital relationships, parental roles, and responsibilities.
“Authenticating more than one million 4Ps beneficiaries demonstrates how the National ID can help make the delivery of services more targeted and efficient, especially for the vulnerable sector,” said PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General.
“We thank the DSWD for partnering with us in our goal to prioritize the use cases of the National ID for social protection program beneficiaries,” he added.
Aside from biometric authentication services, the PSA is also offering other National ID services to 4Ps beneficiaries and their family members during FDS.
This includes registration and issuance of ePhilID, which has the same functionality and validity as the physical card.