DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental Aug. 6 (PIA) -- Around 593, 330 persons in Negros Oriental have registered in the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) as of July 31.
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Negros Oriental Provincial Head Engr. Ariel Fortuito said the figure represents 69.46% of the target number of individuals to be covered under PhilSys, which is at more than 800,000.
Fortuito added the figure is composed of individuals who were pre-registered for PhilSys last year and those who went directly to the PhilSys registration centers in Dumaguete City and other designated places in every city and municipality in the province.
Those who were pre-registered belong to the list of low-income families identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The pre-registration was held from Aug. 12 to Dec. 30, 2020 where PSA enumerators collected demographic data from the enrolees.
It was extended from on Jan. 18 to April 30 this year where a total of 647,136 individuals were pre-registered.
However, due to the travel restrictions imposed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, majority of those who were pre-registered were not able to go to the registration centers for the second step of PhilSys, which is the actual registration of personal information and biometrics.
With this, the PSA decided to open the Step 2 registration to other sectors so that it can achieve its target number of individuals to be registered under PhilSys.
Fortuito said the PSA opened its registration to several institutional organizations such as the Bureau of Customs, Department of Labor and Employment, Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, Government Service Insurance System, Negros Oriental State University, Lee Plaza and Lee Hypermart, PhilSouth, DCCO Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and the Diocese of Dumaguete.
PSA also conducted barangay registration to reach out to as many people as possible.
PhilSys aims to provide a valid proof of identity for all citizens and resident aliens as a means of simplifying private and public transactions.
“Kung naa naka ani physical ID, inig present nimo to any government agencies, this is capable already na ma-authenticate nimo ang identity of the person (If you already have the physical ID, you can present it to any government agency. It has the capability to authenticate the person’s identity),” Fortuito said.
He added that this could also promote ease of doing business and reduce red tape during transactions, as instead of requiring a person to submit documents and other proof of identification, the PhilSys ID card can already serve as proof of identity.
Fortuito added that around 111,030 persons from low-income families with no personal ATM card or cash card were able to apply and receive cash cards from the LandBank of the Philippines using their PhilSys ID as proof of identification.
Meanwhile, Fortuito clarified that the PhilSys ID will only authenticate a person’s identity and does not replace other functional IDs like driver’s license or Philippine Red Cross ID which allows a person to practice a certain skill or profession. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)
