DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA) - - Any private or government establishment which refuses to recognize the Philippine National ID (Identification) card can be fined P500,000.

Guesting in the "Sayron Ta, Pakigsayod"  radio program, Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA) Davao del Norte Chief Statistician Pepito Amoyen emphasized this in the midst of some complaints regarding the non-acceptance of Philsys as a valid ID.

Section 19 of Republic Act 11055 of the PhilSys Act  provides that “Any person or entity who, without just and sufficient cause, shall refuse to accept, acknowledge and/or recognize the Phil ID or PSN, subject to  authentication, as the only official identification of the holder/possessor thereof shall be fined in the amount of Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00).”

Amoyen is determined to enforce the PhilSys Act “because just imagine the government has spent billions of pesos for the national ID  and just be refused,” he said.

“Mao na nga gibutang jud sa balaod ang penalty (that’s why the penalty is really stated in the law) and for those who want to file their cases, pwede mo  moadto sa atoang PAO (you can seek the assistance of PAO), and PAO will entertain in reference to the  violation of Section 19 of the Philsys Act,” he said.

Amoyen  said establishments that turned down the PhilSys ID noted it to have no signature deemed as important in verifying document such as cheques.

He explained that the National ID has no signature because the personal biometrics and iris scan are sufficient to identify a person, and these are more reliable than a signature which, according to him, can be forged.

To verify the ID holder, concerned agency or establishment can download the PSA “PhilSys Check” verifier to scan the QR code of the card holder and check her or his identity.

“We have posted on  our (FB) page  how to verify through the scanner. Downloadable man ang verified Check,” he said.  (JMDA/PIA Davao del Norte)