LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Catanduanes reported last Thursday, February 2, that 96 percent of its target population in the province have registered for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) as of last month.

At least 230,338 individuals in Catanduanes have accomplished the second step of the PhilSys, which means only 8,913 individuals in the province have yet to register for the national ID system. 

Virac, the provincial capital and most populous town in the island province, has recorded a total of 62,562 registrants or 93 percent of target population. Only 4,777 residents remained unregistered to the PhilSys.

According to PSA, the municipality of Pandan recorded the highest percentage rate at 102 percent or 19,197 residents have already registered.

Meanwhile, at least 118,189 individuals have received their Philippine National ID (PhilID) in Catanduanes. PSA said they have distributed over 85,000 e-PhilIDs, while the Philippine Postal Corporation has delivered over 32,000 PhilID cards in the province. 

The PSA added that its office in Catanduanes is open for the PhilID registration from Monday to Sunday. It also has deployed its Registration on Wheels to different barangays in the province to make sure that everyone has access to registration.

In a Facebook post, they also reminded the public to be prepared for the full implementation of using the PhilID, particularly in availing benefits and other aids from the government. (PIA5/Edlyn Buara, Bicol University intern, contributed to this report.)