ILOILO City – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region 6 reminded anew government offices and financial institutions in Western Visayas that the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Identification Card (PhilID) is a valid proof of identity.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) states that the PhilID or national ID is a valid proof of identity and must be accepted in all transactions.
Nelida Amolar, officer-in-charge regional director of PSA-6, said government or private offices refusing to honor national ID could face sanctions.
“Actually may multa and under the law, kadaku gani sang multa nila pero indi man automatic nga kon wala ka nagbaton multahan ka dayon. We will be sending reminder and warning kag kon mag-come up nga kadamu na gid sang reklamo sa particular financial institutions they will be dealt according sa law,” Amolar said in an interview with Panay News.
Those refusing to honor the national ID face sanctions under Section 19 of RA 11055: “Any person or entity who, without just and sufficient cause, shall refuse to accept, acknowledge and/or recognize the PhilID or PSN (PhilSys Number), subject to authentication, as the only official identification of the holder/possessor thereof shall be fined in the amount of P500,000.”
PSA-6 had received complaints particularly from less fortunate residents or from low-income families that their national ID – their only valid proof of identity – was not honored by some government offices or financial institutions.
But with continuous advocacy and information dissemination on the national ID, the PSA-6 has been receiving lesser number of complaints regarding the non-acceptance of national ID.
The PhilID, PSN or PSN Derivative may be presented in lieu of a birth certificate for transaction that requires individuals to establish their age, including but not limited to:
* application for marriage license;
* application for student drivers permit or conductor license with the Land Transportation Office;
* enrollment of students in public and private schools or registration for Philippine Educational Placement Test;
* applications with Professional Regulation Commission; and
* application related to voter’s registration with the Commission on Elections.
Accordingly, no additional proof of identity or age shall be required upon presentation of the PhilID, PSN, or PSN derivative, as authenticated.
“Ang aton PhilSys ID is primary ID nga dapat amo gid na sia batunon especially for those less fortunate brothers and sisters or low-income families or people under poverty threshold nga wala sang iban nga ID, only PhilSys ID is the proof of their identity,” Amolar said.
As of Sept. 1, a total of 7,173,917 national IDs have been issued in Region 6. Here is the breakdown per province:
* Aklan – 556,254
* Antique – 549,523
* Capiz – 729,965
* Guimaras – 169,827
* Iloilo – 2,271,986
* Negros Occidental – 2,896,362
Of the number, 6,021,529 ePhilIDs and PVC cards have been delivered:
* Aklan – 457,511
* Antique – 448,046
* Capiz – 657,596
* Guimaras – 178,901
* Iloilo – 1,864,175
* Negros Occidental – 2,415,300
As of this writing, the PSA-6 still has around one million backlogs in national IDs. But Amolar assured these will be delivered in the region and ready for release within this year.
Meantime, those who have yet to receive their national IDs after more than a year of registration are advised to visit any PSA office and present their transaction slip.
“They will come to the PSA offices and bring their transaction slip nga ginhatag sa ila kay within that day they will be given automatically ePhilID,” Amolar added./PN
