TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 19 (PIA) – The Philippine Identification (PhilID) card has no signature on it as its digitized system does not need it.

This was the assurance of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Officer-in-Charge and Financial and Private Sector Use Cases Division Chief Oliver Chancoco during the Philippine ID System (PhilSys) Information Education and Communication Regional Roadshow held at the Bohol Tropics on Nov. 17.

Chancoco said the PhilID card, is primarily established to provide a valid proof of identity for all citizens and resident aliens and can simplify public and private transactions by eliminating the need to present other forms of identification when transacting business with government and the private sector.

The PhilID, which is subject to fitting authentication based on a biometric identification system, has a much better and more reliable verification of the identity of a person, much better than a signature.

“Besides, a signature in the card can be easily copied, thus faked and could be used in cases of fraud,” Chancoco said.

The card already contains registry data that are either demographic or biometric.

PhilSys has two simple functions: through the PhilSys Number (PSN) it creates a unique digital identity for all Filipinos and aliens and it provides reliable authentication of identity for secure and digital transactions.

The card can also be used like an ATM or a credit card. 

The PSN is a permanent 12-digit number which should be kept private and is not intended to be used for transactions.

This also contains a PhilSys Card Number (PCN) which is its authentication.

The card owner may give his PSN which can be verified online through the PhilSys registry that automatically displays the picture of the ID bearer, fingerprint, iris, contact number, and date of birth.

The same data can be accessed from the PSA data registry by scanning the Quick Response (QR) Code at the back of the card.

According to Chancoco, the biometrics alone works as an authentication that is much reliable, foolproof, and cannot be simply copied for unauthorized usage.

Republic Act 11055, especially Sec. 19, provides for the penal provision in an unlawful use of the PhilSys ID.  

This entails between P50,000 to P500,000 in penalties and six months to two years imprisonment.

On the other hand, using false information in PhilSys application, renewal and update, willful falsification, mutilation, alteration, or tampering of the PhilID, unauthorized use of PhilID/PSN by another person, possession of fake, falsified, or altered PhilID and transferring of PhilID or the PSN to any other person, will be penalized with three to six years imprisonment and P1,000,000 to P3,000,000 in fines. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)