The National ID system is making it easier for citizens affected by disasters to apply for and claim calamity assistance from various institutions, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
“The National ID is designed to serve as a valid proof of identification, providing access to essential government services, especially in times of crisis,” said Claire Dennis Mapa, the national statistician and civil registrar general for the PSA.
Mapa said the system’s digital and interoperable nature helps streamline processes, which is crucial for delivering immediate services and preventing duplicate aid.
The PSA said, however, that social media posts promising cash assistance in exchange for the National ID are false and did not originate from the agency.
It said the National ID can be used as a valid proof of identity when applying for government social assistance programs, in accordance with the implementing agency’s rules.
“Do not be deceived and protect your personal information. Report these incidents to our official channels,” the PSA said.
With the National ID, registered individuals in select flood-prone areas can apply for cash aid through programs like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
The beneficiary validation for these programs is managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Digital Exchange – Client’s Link of Unified Data (Dx-CLOUD), a platform integrated with the National ID system.
The National ID is also a valid document for applying for calamity loans or a one-month payment moratorium at the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and its attached agencies, including the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and the National Housing Authority (NHA).
Pag-IBIG Fund members can also use the National ID to support emergency loan applications and claims for housing loan insurance related to material damage.
For small businesses, the Small Business Corp. (SBCorp) has opened Enterprise Rehabilitation Financing facilities in areas under a state of calamity. Businesses can apply for loans of up to P300,000 through the SBCorp Money app, which honors the National ID for account creation and identity verification.
Rosalinda Bautista, assistant secretary and deputy national statistician of the PhilSys Registry Office (PRO), urged government agencies and private institutions to use and integrate with the National ID’s authentication services to provide more efficient disaster assistance.
“Through the PSA’s efforts towards establishing use cases and integration, we are now seeing how the National ID can help Filipinos in times of calamities,” Bautista said.
