30 January 2025– Guimaras. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Guimaras Provincial Statistical Office has successfully issued 1,764 printed electronic Philippine Identification (ePhilID) cards and 3,480 Digital National IDs in 2024.

“This milestone is part of the PSA’s ongoing effort to accelerate the implementation of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), ensuring that all registered individuals can access the benefits of a secure and reliable national identification system”, Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare said.

A resident of Jordan, Guimaras receives her ePhilID, one of the 1,764 ePhilIDs released by PSA Guimaras in 2024.

Among the five municipalities in Guimaras, Jordan (Capital) recorded the highest number of ePhilID releases with 1,044, followed by Nueva Valencia (224), San Lorenzo (210), Sibunag (175), and Buenavista (111). The peak issuance months were April (328), March (324), and February (204), indicating a growing awareness and acceptance of the ePhilID in the province.

Meanwhile, 3,480 Digital National IDs have been successfully issued across the province, supporting the government’s shifts into a fully digital identification system.

PSO Losare explained that the ePhilID is a digital version of the PhilSys ID (PhilID) printed on paper.

“This initiative is a proactive strategy of the PSA to accelerate ID issuance, ensuring that registered individuals can immediately benefit from PhilSys services while waiting for their physical PhilID cards,” Losare said.

“Although printed on paper, the printed ePhilID is valid and must be recognized in all transactions that require proof of identity. It contains the demographic information, Front-facing photograph, PhilSys Card Number (PCN), Date of issuance, and QR code for authentication of a person's identity,” she added.

PSA guarantees that all individuals who receive the printed ePhilID will still be issued a physical National ID once their card production is completed.

The printed ePhilID has the same functionality and legal validity as the physical PhilID used in various transactions, including government services (SSS, PhilHealth, GSIS, etc.), opening bank accounts and financial transactions, job applications, social welfare and benefits (DSWD, Pagibig, etc.), and business and private sector transactions.

PSO Losare also cited that to ensure widespread recognition, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has issued a memorandum directing all financial institutions to accept the printed ePhilID as a valid proof of identity.

While the printed ePhilID and Digital National ID serve as official digital versions of the National ID, they differ in format and accessibility.

Printed ePhilID is a paper-based digital ID physically claimed at designated PhilSys registration centers. It contains a QR code for authentication for government and private transactions.

Digital National ID is a fully digital version of the PhilID that is stored on mobile devices and accessed through the eGovPH app or PhilSys online portal. It also has a QR code for verification and serves the same functions as the printed ePhilID.

Despite their differences, both the printed ePhilID and Digital National ID have the same legal validity and functions as the physical PhilID.

The 3,480 Digital National IDs released by PSA-Guimaras in 2024 are part of the Agency’s digital transformation initiative. This paperless and secure digital ID provides Filipinos with easy-to-use access identification system, allowing them to store their PhilID on their mobile devices and use it anytime for transactions.

Digital National ID contains Security features like secure authentication via QR code, easily accessible through mobile devices, and enhanced security measures against fraud.

To download the Digital National ID, registered individuals can visit the official PhilSys website (https://national id.gov.ph) or access it via the eGovPH app.

The Digital National ID provides a secure, convenient, and paperless solution for identification and simplifies transactions with: Government services (DFA, LTO, BIR, etc.), Banking and financial transactions, Employment applications, educational institutions, Business and commercial transactions.

PSO Losare also emphasized the commitment of PSA Guimaras in promoting secure and accessible digital identification.

"Transitioning to a digital identification system is crucial in enhancing public service efficiency. The ePhilID and Digital National ID serve as valid and secure identification tools that provide convenience while maintaining security standards", Losare said.

To verify the authenticity of both IDs, users can scan the QR code through PhilSys Check at https://verify.philsys.gov.ph. They can claim or download their printed ePhilID through https://appt.philsys.gov.ph by entering their Transaction Reference Number (TRN) from Step 2 Registration, and setting an appointment at the nearest PhilSys registration center.

Digital National ID can also be downloaded through https://national-id.gov.ph or from the eGovPH app.

PSA-Guimaras remains committed to ensuring efficient ID issuance and urges all registered individuals to claim or download their IDs for a secure, accessible, and hassle-free identification system