REVENUE MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 79-2021 issued on June 28, 2021 circularizes the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Advisory with subject “Philippine Identification (PhilID) Cards as the Official Proof of Identity for Transactions with Government and Private Entities”.
Under Republic Act No. 11055 (Philippine Identification System Act), the PhilID card, issued by the PSA, shall serve as the official government-issued identification document of cardholders in dealing with all National Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), Government Financial Institutions (GFIs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and all private sector entities. As such, the PhillD card shall be accepted as sufficient proof of identity, without the need to present any other identification documents.
The Act penalizes any person or entity who without just and sufficient cause refuses to accept, acknowledge and/or recognize the PhillD card as the only official identification of the holder/possessor with a fine in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (₱ 500,000.00). Finally, if the violation is committed by government official or employee, the penalty shall include perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any public office or employment in the government, including any GOCCs, and their subsidiaries.