PSA authenticates 4,572 4Ps beneficiaries in April

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Guimaras Provincial Statistical Office successfully authenticated 4,572 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) using the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) in April 2024.

Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare explained that the authentication process began in mid-February, under the directive of PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa, PhD, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

“This identity verification is being done through biometric authentication using the PhilSys Authentication Application to avail of the Family Day Session (FDS) equivalency,” Losare stated.

The FDS is a mandatory monthly activity for 4Ps beneficiaries, designed to build and strengthen the capabilities of Pantawid families under DSWD guidelines. Losare detailed the process, explaining that registered beneficiaries present their PhilID or ePhilID.

PSA personnel then encode the PhilSys Card Number (PCN) and scan the beneficiary’s fingerprint through the PhilSys Authentication Application to confirm their identity in the PhilSys registry.

“This will then be recorded on an attendance sheet that will be signed by the PSA and DSWD representatives,” Losare added. This process simplifies beneficiary verification and ensures compliance with FDS requirements.

In addition to authentication, the PSA Guimaras provided registration services and issued ePhilIDs at the FDS sessions to unregistered beneficiaries and their children aged 1-4 years. “The team also issued and distributed ePhilIDs to those registrants who have not yet received their PhilID,” Losare noted.

Losare assured that PhilSys Guimaras will continue collaborating with DSWD to authenticate the remaining 4Ps beneficiaries in the province before the Office Memorandum regarding PSA’s commitment to register DSWD beneficiaries and their dependent children ends on June 30 this year.

The Philippine Identification System aims to provide a unified, national ID system that streamlines public and private transactions, enhances security, and promotes greater access to services for all Filipinos. The ongoing collaboration between PSA and DSWD ensures that vulnerable populations, such as 4Ps beneficiaries, can benefit from these advancements.