Last year, the government launched the Philippine Identification Card program that will provide valid proof of identification to all citizens and resident aliens.

The initial challenge is to gather relevant information from millions of residents during its five-year implementation period. Looking forward, a future major hurdle would be the printing of ID cards to the entire population that is now nearing 110 million. This could benefit from new technologies that enable cost-effective, high-quality credentials without the need for specialized card media.