The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has generated about 56 million digital IDs in coordination with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and PhilSys in line as a result of the the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the agency said on Thursday.
In a press brieifng in Malacanang, Information and Communications Secretary Ivan John Uy said that although the national ID is being managed by the PSA, the President instructed the DICT not to wait for the issuance of the physical plastic IDs and come up with digital copies.
“May directive po ang ating mahal na Pangulo na ang DICT po ay tumulong na at huwag na pong antayin iyong plastic card ID. Humanap po tayo ng paraan na maka-distribute rin ng ID na medyo modern at nasasang-ayon sa digital age,” Uy said.
“So, na-develop na po namin iyong Digital National ID. So ito po ay nakipag-ugnayan kami sa PSA, sa PhilSys, at nakapag-generate na po kami ng about 56 million digital IDs,” he said.
However, only about 1.4 million people have so far downloaded the eGovPH App, through which they could have access to their digital IDs.
The DICT chief advised the public to download eGovPH App to access their digital national IDs while they wait for the issuance of physical card.
In case they successfully access the App but still fail to connect, Uy said it means the PSA is still working on the gathered information.
“So, ‘pag access niyan, lalabas iyong digital ID ninyo. Kung sinabi na hindi ma-access, then may problema sa PSA,” Uy said.
“Tawagan iyong PSA at tanungin ninyo kung ano, maaaring mali iyong picture or iyong resolution ng picture ay hindi ganoon kaganda, so hindi ma-validate iyong biometrics ninyo; or maaaring may errors sa pag-input ng birthdate ninyo, ng address ninyo or whatever, at iyong issues na iyon kailangan ayusin sa PSA,” he said.
Republic Act No. 11055, otherwise known as the Philippine Identification System Act, aims to establish a single national identification system for all citizens and resident aliens of the Republic of the Philippines.
The valid proof of identity provided by the PhilSys shall be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, and shall be a social and economic platform that promotes seamless social service delivery and strengthening of financial inclusion for both public and private services. PND
