Banks allowed to accept ePhilIDs for bank transactions, account opening –PSA

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced Tuesday that the digital version of the Philippine Identification, known as ePhilIDs, can now be used for financial transactions such as opening bank accounts.

In a memorandum, the PSA said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) would allow the use and acceptance of the ePhilID as sufficient proof of identity in its supervised banks and non-bank financial institutions.

Moreover, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also released issuances and advisories for the acceptance of the ePhilID as a valid proof of identity, including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

The ePhilID will also be accepted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as an accredited government-issued valid ID for passport processing, which includes passport application and renewal.

"The implementation of the ePhilID is anchored on PSA's commitment to providing registered persons immediate access to services and programs," said PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician, and Civil Registrar General.

"May this significant step from DSWD, DFA, and BSP be followed by more institutions delivering services to all Filipinos through the ePhilID,” he added.

Meanwhile, the PSA said that it continues to issue more ePhilIDs by implementing a plaza-type and house-to-house distribution parallel to fast-tracking PhilID production and printing.

Additionally, the PSA has pilot-implemented a website that allows registered individuals to download a PDF copy of their ePhilID to their mobile devices. — DVM, GMA Integrated News