MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday instructed the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to fast-track the printing of the digital version of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID.

“Let us print out as much as we can and then isunod natin ‘yung physical ID as soon as we can,” the President said in a meeting with National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and PSA officials.

During the meeting, the printing capacity was tackled, wherein issues raised include the “late start of the flow of data and the volume of the data which is less than what is supposed to be”

It was reported to the chief executive that the data flow from PSA to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has been rectified.

PSA Undersecretary Dennis Mapa said it continues to work with the BSP in further expediting and boosting the volume of Phil ID production and printing.

The PSA head earlier pointed to the influx of registrants in the PhilSys for the delay in the printing of national ID cards.

In October, the PSA started the implementation of the printed digital version of the Phil ID.

Through the printed Phil ID, registered persons can immediately utilize the benefits of PhilSys, such as faster and seamless transactions in accessing financial and social protection services requiring proof of identity, subject to authentication, according to the PSA. (PND)