In response to ongoing challenges in producing physical Philippine Identification Cards (PhilIDs), two prominent senators have suggested a transition to digital IDs as a practical solution. Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Sherwin Gatchalian made their recommendations during a recent hearing of the Senate committee on finance.
During the hearing, Senator dela Rosa highlighted the production difficulties faced by the government, with only 31 percent of the planned physical PhilIDs delivered due to printing problems and other issues.
He suggested, “[K]ung hirap tayong mag produce ng hard copy tulad ng sabi ninyo ay 31 percent pa lang ang nadeliveran ninyo dahil sa printing problems or whatever, siguro pwede nating i-stop ‘yun. Then we’ll go digital.”
Dela Rosa also emphasized potential cost savings if the distribution of physical PhilIDs is halted. Senator Gatchalian echoed his sentiments, stating that physical cards are prone to quality issues, while digital versions can be easily corrected in case of information errors. He pointed out that going digital would “save the government a lot of time” and eliminate logistical challenges.
However, Claire Dennis Mapa, the National Statistician of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), acknowledged the merits of going digital but raised concerns about digital accessibility.
Not all Filipinos aged 15 and above own smartphones, and some regions lack reliable connectivity. Mapa explained that priority deliveries of physical cards are being made to these areas.
Data presented during the hearing indicated that approximately 40.8 million digital PhilIDs or ePhilIDs had been delivered as of September 8. Mapa mentioned their goal to replace all digital IDs with physical copies and “clear everything” by September 2024.
Monday’s hearing focused on the proposed P12.21 billion budget of the National Economic and Development Authority and its attached agencies, including the PSA, responsible for overseeing the Philippine Identification System ID, also known as the national ID.
Senators dela Rosa and Gatchalian’s proposal for a digital transition could potentially streamline the distribution process and improve accessibility while addressing production challenges.
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