National ID registration ongoing in Bacolod

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Provincial Chief Statistical Specialist Luis Gonzales of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Negros Occidental said registration for the National ID System is ongoing from Mondays to Saturdays at the Rizal Elementary School in Bacolod City.

“We are currently catering to those 15 years old and above,” Gonzales said.

He said that the ongoing registration is already “Step 2” of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registration process. Step 2 is for the validation of supporting documents and capturing of biometric information of registrants.

In “Step 1” conducted last year, a house-to-house interview to gather the demographic data using tablets was done by PSA-commissioned Data Collectors, Gonzales further said.

An appointment slip for Step 2 was then issued to each interviewee.

Gonzales said that for Step 1 in Bacolod, the PSA prioritized members of some low-income families included in the list furnished by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“In our Step 1, we already catered even to those small children (below 15 years old),” Gonzales added.

The PSA has made significant progress in the last quarter of 2020 with over 8.4 million Filipinos completing the PhilSys Step 1 Registration.

Gonzales said Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has registered with the PhilSys Step 2 Thursday together with some City Hall executives, including City Legal Officer Atty. Joselito Bayatan, Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Edward Joseph Cuansing, Supervising and Administrative Officer Federico Guanzon Jr., and PESO-Bacolod head Ma. Rebecca Balicas.

Several executive assistants to the mayor also registered.

“Our process right now is to prioritize those who registered last year but there are instances that they are not able to come, which is why we also cater to walk-in registrants,” said Gonzales.

Republic Act 11055, or the “Philippine Identification System Act,” aims to establish a single national identification system for all citizens and resident aliens in the Philippines.

Aside from providing a valid proof of identity, establishing a single Philippine Identification System would help transform and streamline the delivery of services, resulting to easier access to and application for social welfare programs and benefits from the government.

Promoting ease of doing business, enhancing the integrity of services and reducing fraud, enabling and promoting participation and trust in digital government and the digital economy, and empowering Filipinos with greater control over their personal data are also among the objectives of the PhilSys.

On January 4, 2021, the PSA started gradual and small-scale registration in selected provinces in the country. In Bacolod, the Step 2 registration kicked off on February 23, 2021.

The PSA targets to register majority of the Filipinos by the end of 2022. (With a report from Bacolod PIO)