There has been some confusion as of late as to whether the digital version of the national ID is considered a valid ID. We have to remember that the rollout of the physical national ID has had its pain points, and after months of waiting, many Filipinos were shocked to receive a piece of paper that counted as the national ID and that we should simply laminate it. There was a glimmer of hope however: roughly the same time while this was going on, the DICT was working on an omnibus app that would serve as a one stop shop for Filipinos and government services. We have written about the eGov app in the past and how it is now a necessity when we travel. One other app feature that many Filipinos have overlooked is the ability to generate a digital version of the national ID.
When you open the app, click on the bottom middle button to generate or show your PhilSys National ID. This is a valid ID that can be presented to banks and other establishments that require a valid government ID. Let no one tell you otherwise. In fact, this is backed by MEMORANDUM NO 2024-026 which is attached in full here:
BSP Memorandum Re Acceptance of Digital National ID by Jayvee on Scribd
We reached out to the office of the DICT during our ProFuture AI Summit and asked the following questions:
Is the digital national ID considered a valid ID? Where can we use it?
Yes, the Digital National ID (PhilSys) is considered a valid ID in the Philippines. It can be used as proof of identity for various transactions, similar to the physical PhilSys ID (PhilID). The Digital National ID is accessible through the eGovPH app, which allows individuals to present a digital version of their PhilID for various purposes.
Can we present it as a valid ID (like flashing it from the phone) when we are being requested for an ID to show (banks, other govt offices, buildings that need a valid ID)
Yes, you can present the Digital National ID by flashing it from your phone when requested for identification. The BSP Memorandum confirms that all formats of the National ID, including the Digital National ID, must be accepted as valid proof of identity by BSP-supervised financial institutions (BSFIs), subject to authentication.
This means that banks, government offices, and other entities like buildings requiring valid IDs should accept the Digital National ID as long as it can be authenticated. The QR code on the digital ID can be scanned for verification through platforms like National ID Check (https://everify.gov.ph/check), which is designed to confirm the authenticity of the digital ID. EVerify also allows registering entities to confirm identities of their clientelle.
But what happens if you need to leave a valid ID when you enter a building or a subdivision? Some locations with stricter security require leaving a valid ID for such purposes. Does flashing an ID work? According to Mon Gutierrez, COS of the eGov Undersecretary David Almirol, he says “that is where the physical ID issued by the PSA would remain useful until such time that all villages start to digitise as well.” He adds by explaining a roadmap to full digitalization of personal identity; “we have to drive the digital transformation of the entire country and let go of all physical ones eventually. The PRC digital ID is also in the eGovApp. Soon all IDs will be digitised including your LTO and passport. We didnt want to stay unproductive despite the lack of a signed road map. We already launched 25 digital platforms which the OP is very much aware of. The National Digital ID, eVerify (for IDs), eGovPH app, eTravel, eLGU, eReport, eGovDx, eJobs, eGovPay, eReceipt are a few of them.”
It seems like the DICT has huge plans to fully digitize our personal identities. That would mean having establishments with IoT devices to verify autenticity through the eVerify check. This is similar to how the public has mass-adopted QR codes in establishments for transactions. Bookmark this article to show to establishments who are confused about the national ID being considered a valid ID.
