National ID holders complain of photos and details fading, peeling off

For an identification card meant to last a lifetime, some Philippine National IDs are apparently having trouble surviving an ordinary wallet.

Complaints over physical National IDs, or PhilIDs, have persisted after cardholders reported photographs fading, scratching off or peeling from the cards—sometimes making them difficult to use for the transactions they were designed for.

The problem is not merely cosmetic. When the photograph disappears, establishments may refuse to accept the ID because they can no longer confidently match it with its owner.

Cardholder Princess Joy Pasco told GMA News that her National ID was rejected after her photograph became defaced.

“Ayaw po nilang tanggapin ’yung sa ID ko… Paano po makikilalang ako po ‘yun?” she said.

Another cardholder, John Roque, questioned why his National ID appeared less durable than his driver’s license.

“Kung valid ID po kasi talaga dapat hindi po dapat nakukutkot o kaya matibay na materyales ang ginagamit nila,” he said.

Online, other Filipinos have shared similar complaints, including photos reportedly transferring onto plastic wallet sleeves or portions of the printed information becoming difficult to read.

PSA offers free replacement

The Philippine Statistics Authority recognizes peeled or faded photographs as grounds for replacement. The PSA says cards with photographs that have peeled off or faded to the point that facial features are no longer recognizable may be considered damaged or defective.

Affected cardholders may request a replacement without paying a fee. They must bring and surrender the damaged PhilID and accomplish the required replacement form at an authorized PSA office or National ID registration center.

Meanwhile, Filipinos can also use the Digital National ID, which serves as a valid proof of identity for transactions.

The National ID itself has lifetime validity. But the complaints leave an uncomfortable question for a government credential designed to last indefinitely:

Why should Filipinos need to replace a lifetime ID because its photograph could not last?