THERE would be no need to present other identifications cards if the Philippine Identification (PhilID) card is presented during transactions in government offices and private establishments.
Refusal to accept, acknowledge, or recognize the PhilID without just and sufficient cause shall merit a P500,000 fine, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya.
For government officials and employees, refusing to accept the PhilID card comes with a lifetime ban from holding any public office or employment in the government, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and their subsidiaries.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the PhilID already contains all necessary information to establish the identity of the citizen.
“Ipinapaunawa po natin sa lahat ng tanggapan ng gobyerno at mga pribadong establisimyento, huwag na po kayong maghanap pa ng iba pang ID dahil ang PhilID lamang ay sapat na,” he said.
He said the PhilID reduces costs, simplifies transactions, and makes things easier and more convenient.
It also improves government services and reduces red tape in government transactions since all pertinent information of the registered person is already consolidated into one system, he added.
Aside from personal information, PhilID also comes with PhilSys Card Number (PCN), diffractive optically variable image device, QR (quick response) code, and PhilSys Number (PSN) microprint for security purposes.
The Philippine Statistics Authority said 200,000 PhilID cards have been released to its owners while there were 200,000 more scheduled for delivery.
Some 35 million Filipinos have finished the registration process, which is being done through house-to-house or online, while 12 million others have completed the on-site collection of biometric information.
The government encouraged the transacting public to get in touch with their respective LGUs or register online at https://register.philsys.gov.ph/ to get their PhilID cards. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)