Claim: The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reminded the public that all national ID holders will receive P5,000 cash assistance.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook reel bearing the claim has gained 4 million views, 61,900 reactions, and 33,000 shares, as of writing.
The video uses an audio of a woman purportedly reporting about the cash assistance from the PSA.
“Nagpaalala sa publiko ang Philippine Statistics Authority na bibigyan ng ayuda ang pagkakaroon ng Philippine Identification System o PhilSys ID. Ito ang nilinaw ng PSA. P5,000 cash assistance ang [makakatanggap ng] sinumang meroong national ID,” the women in the video say.
(The Philippine Statistics Authority reminds the public that assistance will be provided to those who obtain a Philippine Identification System or PhilSys ID. The PSA clarified this. A cash assistance of P5,000 will be given to anyone who has a national ID.)
The video also shows a man wearing a navy blue security guard uniform, alongside an infographic about the supposed cash assistance and a logo of UNTV displayed as a greenscreen background.
The facts: The audio used in the video was spliced from a news report from UNTV’s broadcast show C-News. Contrary to the claim, in the original report uploaded on March 14, 2024, the show’s host Louella de Cordova reported on the PSA’s advisory that dismissed the false information about the supposed P5,000 cash assistance.
Released on August 9, the PSA advisory warned the public once again “about unauthorized individuals offering cash to registered persons in exchange for their national IDs.”
The agency clarified that possessing a national ID does not qualify an individual for any cash benefits or participation in other social protection programs of the government. These benefits are awarded according to the specific rules and regulations of the relevant agency.
If the public comes across posts claiming cash assistance from PhilSys, they are advised to report them to the PhilSys hotline at 1388, via email at info@philsys.gov.ph, or through the agency’s official Facebook page.
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Getting a national ID: PhilSys is the centralized identification system that facilitates the issuance of a national ID. Applicants must present the necessary documents at their nearest designated registration center.
A digital version of the national ID and a paper-printed ePhilID are also available. (EXPLAINER: How Filipinos can get a digital national ID)
Previous fact-checks: Rappler has debunked other false claims about PhilySys or PSA giving cash aid to national ID holders:
- FACT CHECK: No P3,000 cash aid from PhilSys for national ID holders
- FACT CHECK: No PhilSys program offering P5,000 aid for national ID holders
- FALSE: National ID owners get P10,000 aid after online registration
- FACT CHECK: No P4,000 aid for national ID holders
– James Patrick Cruz/Rappler.com
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