One year is a long time to wait for a government ID but that’s exactly what’s happening with our National ID. To make matters worse, Pinoys who received theirs are dismayed to find out it’s printed on regular paper. What on earth is happening?

Pinoys react to the bond paper ID

A frustrated Pinoy tweeted about their dismaying experience after receiving their ePhilID, the printed digital version of the National ID:

“Got home last night and this welcomed me: Our National ID printed on a bond paper — na tayo pa ang gugupit at magpapalaminate!” read the tweet.

“Nalulungkot ako para sa Pilipinas. We waited for almost a year only to get this kind of service,” it added.

The tweet already reached 20k likes as of writing with hundreds mirroring the original poster’s disappointment.

“PH National ID is one of the PH’s biggest scams!” replied one netizen.

“Ang jologs lang!!! Kaya until now hindi ako nag-apply for THAT. A piece of paper that banks are not even currently accepting. Money-making scheme lang yan,” reacted another.

“Ipiprint na nga lang, hindi pa din talaga nila inaayos yung “ePhilId” at “ePhilID”. Although maliit na bagay yan, sobra tagal na, hindi pa maayos,” said another, noticing a spelling error in the “official” ePhilID.

A DIY National ID?

The viral tweet was accompanied by a photo of the actual bond paper/ePhilID showing the instructions for use. There are lines that indicate where the ID holder should cut and fold the printed copy. According to the reminders, Pinoys are also responsible for keeping their ePhilIDs “clean and crumple-free.” They could even opt to have it laminated for extra protection.

But the whole DIY ID did not sit right with many Pinoys.

“WTF! Ano to? After a year of waiting, finally got my National ID! I guess salamat sa pag-deliver ng papel!” said one.

“I don’t care kung sino binoto niyo but the disrespect of this government to Filipinos is beyond me. PSA National ID printed on paper. Not even laminated. DIY,” tweeted another.

And another: “I’ve waited for my National ID for about a year and a half, only to find out na ako lang din pala magpapa-laminate into.”

Are these printed National IDs valid?

As shocking as it looks, these bond paper IDs are legit proof of identity. Last October, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said that electronic Philippine IDs a.k.a. ePhilIDs will be honored for all transactions. But it’s supposed to serve as a placeholder until the physical IDs arrive.

The PSA also said their target is to deliver 30 million physical cards and 20 million digital IDs for 2022. However, in a statement made in late November, they’ve only issued 3.6 million ePhilIDs so far and pre-generated 11.5 million. Meanwhile, President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has ordered the agency to expedite the printing of the digital version and the distribution of physical IDs.

What are the important features of the ePhilID?

Even though it’s printed on bond paper, your ePhilID has security features including a QR code to verify its authenticity. The ePhilID also has the same features as the physical PhilID card: the registered person’s data, front-facing photograph, PhilSys Card Number (PCN), generation date, and QR code.

Having a National ID — whether it’s the ePhilID or the physical PhilID — is crucial for faster and seamless financial and social protection services.

How do you get your ePhilID?

It might be printed on bond paper but it’s still a valid ID so how do you get your hands on one? Here’s what you need to do to get a copy:

1. Make sure you’ve registered for a National ID or you have a PhilSys Number (PSN)
2. Set an online appointment via the PhilSys website
3. Enter the required information (PSN, name, email address, contact number)
4. Choose a registration center, date, and time for printing and claiming
5. Wait for the email confirmation
6. Present your transaction slip to selected PhilSys Registration Centers on the reserved date

For more information on how to get your ePhilID or track your National ID, you can check out our guide here.

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