The physical card might not be arriving anytime soon, so the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) found a way to make the Philippine National ID work for now through a mobile app.

According to Department of Information and Communication Technology Undersecretary Denis Villorente, the Philippine national ID will be available for download on mobile phones early next year.

“In the next few months, we will be able to provide you a mobile app version of this. You can just download your PhilID into your mobile phone. You don’t even need to carry any paper anymore,” Villorente said.

“Digital version or the printable ePhilID was planned so that while we have a backlog in issuing the physical cards, the benefit of being registered a national ID will already be available once you get your ePhilID card,” he added.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa added that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which is tasked to print the physical ID cards can only make 80,000 to 100,000 cards per day. Nevertheless, it is trying to increase turnout to 130,000 per day, he said.

In addition, PSA already started printing ePhilID via an appointment system. Those already registered and have a PSN can get an ePhilID printed at PSA sites nationwide. It will be printed on paper but can be laminated as it is considered a valid ID according to officials.