In a world where anyone could be anybody simply out of a personal claim, fraudulence is bound to be rampant and the society will crumble into corruption. Without being overly dramatic, deceit would at least be common.
In the Philippines which has a total population of at least 100 million and where certain surnames are generally shared by many, having a valid ID card makes up for an imperative in accurately distinguishing one person from the other. For without it, a person’s genuine identity remains obscure and questionable and having cases of mistaken identity be also as common.
Just imagine a world where a person is given an identity at just a point of a finger. You could literally be anyone, aware or unaware, so long as there are one or two people claiming the same thing even though the “accusation” is false. But this is just one of plenty other ways which a primitive ID system would show its fault — it is simply erroneous from the get-go.
Typical use of Identification Card
It is not an uncommon knowledge about the role which an ID plays in the modern world’s many transactions. Be it opening a bank account, applying for a job, or going through dealings with the government or private institutions, the ID makes for an undisputable proof of any person’s identity.
To be without a kind of valid ID therefore in the modern world is quite synonymous to being cut out due to one’s sheer obscurity. In the real world, this is simply too inconvenient and may even be a cause for concern, especially in legal matters.
The Many Kinds of Valid IDs in PH
Luckily, despite the absence of a single, nationalized ID system in the Philippines, Filipinos are given the options to validate their identity in some of many ways. Typically, valid IDs take the form of any of the following:
Philippine Passport
Having to travel abroad is no simple feat, especially for one coming from a developing country. If going from one country to the next is as simple as boarding a plane and leaving it for good, many Filipinos would have undergone diaspora in search of greener pastures. Obviously, this is not the case.
In the real-world setting, any airplane passenger must first go through serious screening, with a typical requirement of one of few important things including a passport.
As the screening process is so stiff resulting from a strict adherence to rules and standards, a passport, once legalized, plays a powerful evidence in identifying a person. Unlike any other form of ID, the Philippine Passport is also preferred for its lengthy validity (10 years) while at the same time not necessarily very costly (ranges between the prices of Php950 to Php1,200).
Getting your own passport, however, is not necessarily a procedure akin to entering the hole in the needle. Nowadays, getting your own personalized Philippine Passport is as easy as heading to the Department of Foreign Affair (DFA)’s website and making an application therein.
However, to prevent any unwanted delay or inconvenience, it is suggested that an appointment slot is established a few months before the actual date of the application.
Driver’s License
To be able to drive, it is mandated for a person to possess a driver’s license which officiates his capability of driving on the road. As issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), a driver’s license can be any of three things: student, non-professional, or professional.
As is the case worldwide, the Philippines consider a driver’s license as a valid indicator of a person’s true-to-life identity. From a former validity period of 3 years, a driver’s license’s legitimacy was extended to 5 years, making it an easy choice as a legal requirement.
A typical driver’s license costs around Php318 to Php920 to be processed.
SSS UMID Card
Issued by the Social Security System (SSS), the Unified Multi-purpose Identification is a 4-in-1 card which encompasses the following government programs: SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth, and PAG-IBIG. For something which is issued by an entity related to the government, everyone considers the UMID card as a valid proof of identity for any person anywhere in the country.
PhilHealth ID
The PhilHealth ID is a requirement for members when claiming benefits. Of all the many government-related programs, getting a PhilHealth ID is the easiest for its simplified procedure. To apply for your own PhilHealth ID as a member, simply present two accomplished PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) copies, in addition to two 1×1 ID pictures, and two valid IDs.
TIN Card
No country-loving citizen gives his fair share of tax without a TIN card. Like any other form of ID, however, a TIN is essentially unique to every person or taxpayer. Getting a TIN ID is free but there is quite a lengthy process towards its completion but it’s manageable to get within one working day if the applicant has the patience to wait.
Postal ID
Getting a delivered package from a nearby post office does not necessarily require the Postal ID for the claimant to receive his parcel. But for people who are looking for an easy access to an ID, the Postal ID poses as an easy choice for its relatively streamlined processing.
To apply for your own Postal ID, simply bring the following as requirements to a nearest PHILPost branch in your area:
- Two (2) copies of accomplished Postal ID application form
- Proof of Identity
- Proof of Address
Voter’s ID
If you are already at a legal age and had voted, having a voter’s ID should be a free privilege as issued by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
Although it might sound so simple, the process of producing voter’s ID en masse takes months, even years, to accomplish. This is because of the intricate process of matching certain information about the voters which is further hampered by the fact that there is around 52 million voters’ information that requires validation.
PRC ID
The Professional Regulation Commissions (PRC) holds a large database of licensed professionals in the country such as doctors, engineers, architects, dentists, etc. which gives them the right to operate in the country. To be included among the pool of these professionals, however, is no simple feat.
To be called a licensed professional therefore and with a PRC ID to back the claim is a kind of testament to you as a uniquely accomplished person.
Senior Citizen ID
At around the age of 60, any living persons in the country officially takes on the label of a “senior citizen,” often privileged by certain benefits such as getting 20% discount on most purchases.
But not all people of greying or white hairs take on the claim of being a senior citizen by means of appearance alone. There has to be an ID which says it so.
If you do indeed meet the condition of being a senior citizen sans the ID as proof, the door to the Municipal Office of the Senior Citizen’s Affair is always open. You would merely have to visit and apply.
OFW ID
Filipinos who work from abroad, generally classified as Overseas Filipino Workers, are encouraged by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to apply for an OFW ID to facilitate a smooth transaction with the government or with the banks.
Luckily, the methodology of applying for an OFW ID is a relatively simple process which involves heading to DOLE’s website, making an account, applying for an OFW ID, and choosing whether to have the ID be personally picked up by you or have it delivered at your doorstep.
That’s it! While getting most of these valid IDs aren’t fast or easy, it will surely help a lot in the future if you have several of them. Often times, they are required as a form of identification and verification to confirm your identity in the Philippines.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, let us know in the comments section below and we’ll gladly help you out.
