FACT CHECK: No P25,000 aid payout in March 2026 for national ID holders

Claim: All Filipino national ID holders are eligible to receive P25,000 in cash assistance this March 2026 by registering through the links provided in social media posts.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: One video containing the claim was posted on February 27 and has since garnered over 2.6 million views, 26,700 comments, and 30,000 shares. Another video bearing the same claim was posted on March 1 and has received over 1.3 million views, 7,900 comments, and 7,500 shares as of writing.

The same claim has been consistently circulated by a Facebook user named “Nick Djkenn Salise,” with additional posts containing the claim published on March 1 and March 5. The March 1 video received 218,000 views, 2,000 comments, and 2,000 shares, while the March 5 video got over 627,000 views, 5,200 comments, and 3,900 shares.

The same Facebook profile also uploaded a video on March 8, claiming that national ID holders can receive up to P50,000 in cash aid.

Salise’s account has over 1 million followers and has consistently been posting and resharing AI-generated content regarding cash aid and the Philippine government.

The facts: The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the implementing agency of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), has repeatedly warned against dubious claims regarding cash assistance for holders of the Philippine Identification (PhilID) card.

The agency clarified that there is no official government program providing cash aid specifically for national ID holders.

In an August 2025 advisory, the PSA said, “Muling pinapaalalahanan ng Philippine Statistics Authority ang publiko na ang mga kumakalat na social media post na nangangako ng cash assistance kapalit ng National ID ay walang katotohanan at hindi nagmula sa PSA.”

(The Philippine Statistics Authority once again reminds the public that the circulating social media posts promising cash assistance in exchange for a National ID are untrue and do not originate from the PSA.)

In an earlier advisory, the agency said, “[B]eing registered or receiving the National ID does not make an individual eligible to receive any cash benefits from the government, and other social protection programs. Such benefits are granted based on the rules and regulations of the concerned agency.”

Under Republic Act No. 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act of 2018, the PSA-issued national ID serves as a lifetime proof of identity for Filipinos. Beyond its lifetime validity, the ID contains sensitive personal information. (READ: National ID law: Here’s the law, plus quick summary)

Phishing risk: Rappler has previously debunked similar claims about fake government cash aid programs that require online registration to solicit personal and confidential information. Most of these posts redirect users to pages requiring personal details simply to leave a comment or inquiry.

The PSA and other government agencies have repeatedly advised the public to avoid engaging with posts that solicit personal information or promise grants in exchange for registration or supposed cash aid. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing).

Rappler’s previous fact-checks on government cash assistance programs include:

• FACT CHECK: Links for national ID holders to register for cash aid are fake
• FACT CHECK: Post on P5,000 cash aid for national ID holders is fake
• FACT CHECK: Posts claiming to show lists of UCT and 4Ps beneficiaries are fake
• FACT CHECK: Registration links for education cash aid lead to shopping sites
• FACT CHECK: No P5,000 cash aid from Malasakit Centers

– Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler.com 

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.