More than 90 million Filipinos have successfully registered and been verified for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), or National ID, accounting for roughly 80 percent of the country’s population, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Tuesday.

“Over 90 million Filipinos can fully enjoy the benefits of being part of the National ID system, which includes improved access to services through any of the formats of the National ID and more secure transactions through the authentication services,” said PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa.

Signed into law in 2018, the National ID system aims to streamline identification for Filipinos by providing one foundational ID accepted across government and private institutions.

Its goals include reducing the need for multiple documents, enhancing fraud prevention, and making it easier for marginalized Filipinos to open bank accounts and access social welfare programs.

The PSA stressed that all individuals currently registered have been verified as possessing unique demographic and biometric information. Assistant Secretary Rosalinda P. Bautista, Deputy National Statistician of the PhilSys Registry Office, said this ensures that identity verification is “more reliable in transactions in National ID-integrated institutions, thereby improving transaction experience for Filipinos.”