Philippines - PhilSys National ID

This video provides an overview of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), the country’s national digital identity program. Presented by Emily Pagador of the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA), it details the system’s objectives, implementation using the MOSIP platform, key benefits realized, challenges encountered, and the vision for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the Philippines. The core value lies in establishing a single, verifiable foundational ID to streamline public service delivery, enhance financial inclusion, and enable interoperability across government and private sectors.

Synthesized Summary

The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), mandated by Republic Act 11055 in 2018, serves as the Philippines’ national foundational ID system. Implemented by the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA), PhilSys utilizes the open-source MOSIP platform as its technological base [01:28]. The system aims to provide every Filipino citizen with a single, reliable, and verifiable proof of identity, thereby simplifying transactions with both government and private entities [03:07, 03:50]. A key driver for PhilSys was the challenge many Filipinos, particularly in marginalized sectors, faced due to lacking basic identification documents, hindering access to services and financial systems [02:43, 07:14].

PhilSys functions as a core component of the country’s burgeoning Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). It facilitates integration between various information systems through APIs, enabling seamless identity verification [00:40, 02:15]. The use of MOSIP’s open-source nature and features like tokenization supports interoperability and privacy by design principles [06:18, 10:03]. Significant outcomes include registering over 88 million citizens [03:13] and facilitating the opening of 7.5 million transactional bank accounts, boosting financial inclusion [16:37]. It has also improved the efficiency and targeting of social protection programs, like the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), by enabling accurate beneficiary verification [11:49, 17:44].

Implementation faced hurdles, notably the logistical complexities of registering citizens across an archipelago of over 7,000 islands (addressed via mobile, boat-based, and on-wheels registration drives) [09:14, 18:48] and the need to build technical capacity within the PSA (mitigated through partnerships with DICT and support from the MOSIP team) [09:50, 20:08]. Overcoming initial resistance and ensuring sustained political commitment were also crucial [22:56]. The PhilSys experience underscores the advantages of a DPI approach, particularly using open-source platforms like MOSIP, for enhancing service delivery, promoting interoperability, and fostering inclusivity.

Key Learnings & Recommendations

• Foundational ID: PhilSys provides a single, legally sufficient national ID (RA 11055) to streamline identity verification across sectors. [01:00, 03:50]
• MOSIP Platform: The system leverages the open-source MOSIP platform, benefiting from its modularity, API-based integration, and features like tokenization. [01:28, 02:15, 10:03]
• Financial Inclusion: PhilSys has been a key enabler for financial inclusion, allowing millions, especially the unbanked, to open transactional accounts using their national ID. [16:37, 17:40]
• Improved Service Delivery: The system enhances the efficiency and targeting of public services, particularly social protection programs, by enabling reliable beneficiary verification. [11:49, 17:44, 07:49]
• Interoperability: PhilSys acts as a platform facilitating data exchange and service integration between different government agencies (e.g., DSWD, DOH, DepEd) and the private sector. [00:40, 12:10, 12:33]
• Implementation Challenges: Successfully implementing a national ID system requires addressing logistical hurdles (like geography), building technical capacity within implementing agencies, and securing sustained political commitment. [09:14, 20:08, 22:56]
• DPI Approach Advantages: Using a DPI approach with open-source components simplifies integration for relying parties, promotes interoperability, and adheres to principles like privacy by design. [06:18, 10:09]

Key Questions Addressed or Raised

Addressed:

• What is the PhilSys National ID system in the Philippines? [00:25]
• How was PhilSys created and what entities were involved? [01:00]
• What challenges prompted the adoption of a DPI approach for PhilSys? [05:47]
• What are the advantages of the DPI approach (using MOSIP) compared to traditional IT solutions in the context of PhilSys? [09:57]
• Which sectors have benefited from PhilSys (DPI)? [15:40]
• What implementation challenges were faced and how were they mitigated? [18:45]
• What is the vision for DPI in the Philippines? [25:19]

Raised:

• The need for ongoing capacity building to develop more products and services leveraging the PhilSys platform. [21:37]
• The critical importance of sustained leadership commitment and political will for DPI success. [22:56, 24:34]
• The need to educate stakeholders on the benefits and principles of DPI. [24:40]

Stated or Implied Applications

• Identity Verification: For both government services and private sector transactions (e.g., banking). [00:53, 03:50]
• Financial Inclusion: Enabling easier access to banking services, particularly opening transactional accounts. [04:09, 16:37, 17:40]
• Social Protection: Improving targeting and verification for social assistance programs (e.g., cash transfers, beneficiary identification for DSWD, DOH, DepEd programs). [07:49, 11:49, 17:44]
• Government Service Delivery: Streamlining access to various public services by providing a single proof of identity. [11:41]
• Ease of Doing Business: Simplifying processes for citizens interacting with government and businesses. [13:46, 25:36]
• Interoperability: Serving as a platform for different government systems to securely exchange information and integrate services. [00:40, 12:10]

Key Terminology Defined

• PhilSys (Philippine Identification System): The official name for the Philippines’ national ID system. [01:14]
• RA 11055: The Philippine Identification System Act, the law establishing PhilSys. [01:06]
• PSA (Philippines Statistics Authority): The lead agency mandated to implement PhilSys. [00:26]
• MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform): The open-source technology platform underpinning PhilSys. [01:28]
• DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure): The foundational systems (like ID, payments, data exchange) enabling digital services; PhilSys is a core component. [05:47, 24:37]
• API (Application Programming Interface): Method used by PhilSys (via MOSIP) to allow other systems to integrate and use its authentication services. [02:22]
• Tokenization: A feature of the MOSIP platform used by PhilSys to enable secure data sharing and interoperability (e.g., sectoral tokens). [10:03, 12:23]
• Financial Inclusion: Increasing access to formal financial services like banking. [04:09, 17:54]
• Interoperability: The ability of different information systems and agencies to exchange data and work together seamlessly. [12:10]

Timestamped Outline / Chapters

• [00:00] - Introduction of Speaker (Emily Pagador, PSA)
• [00:22] - Describe the DPI use case of Digital Identity (PhilSys) in Philippines?
• [00:57] - Tell us more about PhilSys - how was it created and which entities were involved?
• [05:47] - What challenges in public service delivery prompted you to think about digital solutions with a DPI approach?
• [09:57] - In your experience, what is the advantage of a DPI approach over traditional digitization/IT solutions with the specific context of PhilSys?
• [15:40] - What sectors of public delivery have benefited from DPI? How has DPI supported outcomes and impact? What additional ideas did it give you?
• [18:45] - Tell us about the challenges you faced and how you mitigated them?
• [24:31] - What message do you have for decision makers interested in adopting DPI use cases in their own countries?
• [25:19] - What is your vision for DPI in Philippines?

Related Resources Mentioned

• MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform): The open-source platform used for PhilSys. [01:28]
• Land Bank of the Philippines: Partnered in the co-location program for bank account opening during registration. [18:31]
• Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD): Uses PhilSys for beneficiary verification in programs like 4Ps. [11:49, 12:54]
• Department of Health (DOH): Potential user of PhilSys/DSWD registry for health assistance targeting. [13:12]
• Department of Education (DepEd): Potential user of PhilSys/DSWD registry for education assistance targeting. [13:23]
• Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT): Provided technical assistance during implementation. [20:08, 22:30]