The Philippine Statistics Authority, Siquijor Provincial Statistical Office officially opened the first-ever Fixed Registration Center (FRC) for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) on Dec. 9, 2021 located at the 1/F of Siquijor Business and Convention Center, Poblacion, Siquijor, Siquijor.

This is in line with the implementation of R.A. 11055 or the “Philippine Identification System Act” to further extend the registration availability of the national identification system to Siquijodnons in the Province of Siquijor.

FRC will serve as a counter for Step 2 Registration focused on the validation of supporting documents and collection of biometric information such as fingerprints, iris scan and front-facing photograph of the registrants.

During the opening of PhilSys FRC, various stakeholders took part in the ceremony such as barangay officials of barangay Calalinan, Siquijor, Siquijor, the employees of the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) and staff of the Provincial Government of Siquijor including regular staff and contract of service workers (COSWs) of Siquijor PSO. 

Chief Statistical Specialist Aurelia Canda, in her opening remarks, welcomed the participants in this significant milestone as the newly-established FRC mirrors the importance of PhilSys in the province.

Canda announced that Siquijor has already surpassed the previous target of registering 59,623 individuals for this year 2021.

She also expounded that the national ID system is a flagship program of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s administration that is monitored by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) with the aim of registering over 50 to 70 million Filipinos by the end of 2021.   

Retired Col. Enrique Belcina, representative from the Governor’s Office, also showed his support during the opening ceremony, where he cited the importance of the FRC in making it easier for Siquijodnons to register for the national ID. 

Belcina also read the message of Gov. Zaldy Villa who congratulated both the agency and the personnel that despite the pandemic, PSA still managed to successfully implement the national ID system in the province.

Villa also lauded the agency in its strong commitment to establish an FRC for PhilSys that will benefit Siquijodnons and help the nation in moving forward "as we pave the way to a digital economy."

Supervising Statistical Specialist Joselito Maghanoy, in his closing remarks, thanked Belcina for attending the event and to the Provincial Government of Siquijor for its unwavering support and assistance on the establishment of FRC for PhilSys. (John Claude Dag-uman/PSA Siquijor)