Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has temporarily stopped producing PhilSys ID cards, but registration for the national ID remains ongoing.
PSA Social Protection Use Cases division chief Ma. Fides Wilma Marquez said the pause is due to a problem with card printing.
Meanwhile, Marquez did not provide a timeline for when the physical ID cards will be produced again.
Around 90 million Filipinos have already registered for PhilSys and been issued unique PhilSys numbers.
The PhilSys number, verified through biometric data, allows individuals to access digital versions of their national ID via the eGovPH app.
The program has faced repeated delays but continues to prioritize registration despite the production stoppage.
Officials are now focusing on registering children aged 0 to 4 to ensure their inclusion in the national ID system.