President Marcos’ economic czar has urged those still awaiting the delivery of their physical National ID cards to try the digital ID option and prepare to be impressed.

During a launch event on Monday, June 10, Special Adviser to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go presented the digital National ID as an alternative for registrants waiting for their physical cards.

Go encouraged using the digital National ID, easily accessible through https://digital-national-id.e.gov.ph/ and the eGov app.

“For those of us who still await the delivery of your physical ID card, try the digital ID and prepare to be impressed,” Go said.

One of the challenges faced by the National ID system is the prolonged delivery time for physical IDs, with some cases exceeding a year from the registration date.

Aside from the digital national ID, the PSA, along with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), has also launched the authentication platform.

PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa said that over 87 million Filipinos can now access their digital national ID, which can be verified through the National ID eVerify and National ID Check.

“This collaboration between the PSA and the DICT is a fulfillment of our shared goal towards Makabagong Pilipinas, where services are delivered efficiently and securely through digitalization,” Mapa said.

“With these developments, every registered Filipino now has improved access to a reliable and secure proof of identity that can be easily authenticated on their devices. This will facilitate the faster distribution and wider utilization of the National ID, with relying parties finding it easier to onboard to the National ID system,” he added.

The digital national ID is the only recognized digital version of the national ID and is easily accessible through computers or smartphones with an internet connection.

It requires input of demographic information and facial verification to confirm the individual’s identity.

The PSA affirmed that the digital national ID is a valid proof of identification and age that can be presented in any government or private transactions.

"This modern identification system will streamline transactions, improve service delivery, and ultimately make doing business easier for everyone. I am excited to witness a positive change in how things are done with the Digital National ID," said DICT Secretary Ivan E. Uy, noting that it can revolutionize the government's bureaucratic processes.

The statistics agency also introduced the National ID eVerify for government agencies and private establishments to authenticate those individuals registered to the system.

It will enhance security and streamline the onboarding process to the National ID system of relying parties, especially for government agencies, which are priority institutions of the PSA and the DICT.

The system will feature advanced facial recognition technology for real-time matching of an individual's face, among other registered information, with the National ID registry.

The National ID eVerify also has a feature called the National ID Check, which will verify the authenticity of any format of the national ID, including the digital national ID, by scanning the QR code feature.

It is also accessible through National ID eVerify or https://everify.gov.ph/check.

“Through the National ID eVerify and National ID Check, registered Filipinos and relying parties can be assured of more secure, efficient, and reliable transactions,” the PSA noted.