DFA or the Department of Foreign Affairs has announced that starting 1st of August that they will consider postal IDs which are issued by PHLpost as a valid recognized ID when you apply for a passport.
This was announced on Tuesday, July 23, by the FDA and the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLpost) after the two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement. This agreement would provide the DFA an access to the Postal ID Verification System or POVS, which is a software application that facilitates the easy verification of the PhlPost ID.
This program, the use of postal IDs as a valid ID for passport application, was originally announced as early as October of 2016. However, there were delays and thus the implementation was stalled.
According to Alvin Fidelson, the PHLPost information officer, the reason why the use of postal IDs was pushed back was because the online verification system was not yet ready. It was only this year, 2019 that the verification system was completed, he added.
As to those curious on how it works, they would be able to verify the authenticity of the postal IDs presented to the DFA using the web-based POVs. Counter checking counterfeit cards and seamlessly verifying will be done by this verification system.
If you don’t have a postal ID, there are other accepted valid IDs for passport applications. Here is the list of the valid identification cards:
- Social Security System Card
- Unified Multi-Purpose Identification card
- Land Transportation Office driver’s License (student permits will only be accepted if it’s in card format)
- Professional Regulatory Commission ID
- Overseas Worker Welfare Administration e-card
- Commission on Election (COMELEC) voter’s ID or Voter’s Certification from the election officer (must have the dry seal)
- Philippine National Police firearms license
- Senior Citizen ID
- Airman License (only those issued August 2016 onwards)
- School ID (if applicable)
- Current Valid ePassport (for renewal of ePassport)