Provincial Statistics Officer Airene A. Pucyutan of PSA Quezon guested on the media forum at Kapihan sa PIA on January 11, 2023 held at Pacific Mall, Lucena City. Featured on the discussion was the ePhilID or the printed digital version of the PhilID. Issuance of ePhilID is a strategy of the PSA intended to complement the production and distribution of the physical PhilID cards. The registrants can immediately use it and enjoy the benefit of being a PhilSys-registered such as better access to more financial and social protection services. The printed ePhilID has the same functionality and validity as the physical PhilID. According to PSO Pucyutan, PSA Quezon already hit around 1.5 million registered Quezonians to PhilSys and has already distributed 255,283 ePhilIDs and 347,088 PhilID cards provincewide. She cited various agencies which have issued directives/memorandums regarding the acceptance of the PhilID in all format such as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Government Service Insurance System, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Foreign Affairs, to name a few. She explained that any institution or establishment who refused to accept or honor the printed ePhilID and PhilID card shall be penalized in accordance to RA 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act. When asked about the possible proliferation of fake ePhilIDs since it is only printed on a sheet of paper, it was explained that it can be verified or authenticated through the PhilSys Check link provided by the PSA which can be accessed by the relying parties to verify the authenticity of the ePhilID or PhilSys card presented. At present PSA Quezon conducts mobile registrations at the barangays, institutions, establishments, terminals and schools as strategy to increase Philsys registration and distribution of printed ePhilID. Kapihan sa PIA is a media forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Quezon to update the public about the projects, programs and activities of the government offices in line with their mission and mandates. (M.Unlayao/PSA Quezon) (SGD.)AIRENE A. PUCYUTAN Provincial Statistics Officer
