The Philippines will be launching a new mobile ID to supplement the rollout of its new Philippine Identification (PhilID) card. The mobile version will allow registered citizens to realize the benefits of the national ID while still waiting for their physical card to arrive in the mail.
As it stands, the Philippine Postal Corporation has delivered 1,048,255 PhilID cards throughout the country. However, millions more have already completed the registration process, and the government has indicated that people may have to wait as long as sixth months for their card once step two of that process is complete.
The government is hoping that the national ID program will help boost the Philippine economy and bring the country into the digital age. To that end, the Philippine Identification card can be presented as proof of identity to build trust during public and private interactions.
The mobile version of the ID will serve a similar purpose, and can be used to complete in-person and online transactions. Each ID will be linked to a unique PhilSys (Philippine Identification System) number, and holders will be able to share their number to verify their identity while doing business.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has indicated that it will begin issuing mobile IDs sometime this year. The PSA is the agency tasked with implementing the PhilSys program, which will also make it easier for Filipino citizens to open bank accounts and gain access to various government services. In that regard, the PhilID will be accepted as sufficient proof of identity for all interactions with public agencies.
The Philippines formally embarked on its national ID program with the passage of the Philippine Identification System Act back in 2018, though the country had already started laying the groundwork for a biometric national ID program. The country has conducted biometric voter registration, and has linked people’s facial biometrics to their PhilID card. FICO has also reported that there is a broader support for biometric tech amongst the general population.
Source: Philippine News Agency
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