PSA seeks public cooperation in nat’l ID system registration
By Susan C. Aro
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Feb.12 (PIA) – – The Philippine Statistics Authority – Benguet seeks the support and cooperation of the community andbarangay officials for the smooth gathering of relevant information in line with the government’s Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) project which establishes a single national ID system that would ease and simplify government and private transactions.
PSA Baguio-Benguet Head Imelda Buyuccan said data collection started last month targeting initially barangays with the highest number of low income households as determined by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office or the City Social Welfare and Development Office for Baguio.
Buyuccan is asking the cooperation of the populace with the help of barangay officials, for their presence during the data collection and gathering, their consent and taking of pictures and in divulging factual information. She said their office is in close coordination with the identified barangays for the schedule of data gathering especially for those who are working and are only available during weekends.
Data collection on basic information such as name, sex, birthday, birth place, permanent and present address, nationality, and blood type and other optional data needed such as mobile number, email address and marital status is the first step of the PhilSys registration.
Buyuccan assures the public that PSA- hired data collectors who will be going around adhere to health protocols. But she also asks those who will be interviewed to observe the minimum health standards such as wearing of face masks and social distancing to avoid or minimize the risk posed by COVID-19.
The second step is slated on May this year for the data validation and capturing of biometric information for face, finger prints and iris scan, Buyuccan said. A proof of identity is needed here.
The implementation of the Philippine ID System is provided under Republic Act No. 11055, otherwise known as the Philippine Identification System Act signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2018, that aims to establish a single national ID for free for all citizens and resident aliens of the country.
The national ID will ease transactions such as applying for welfare and social benefits, for passport, driver’s license and transactions pertaining to taxes, enrolment of children in schools, state colleges and universities, government clearance such as police, National Bureau of Investigation, in applying for work, and in the opening of bank account and those related to financial transactions.
The PSA aims to register majority of the Filipinos by the end of 2022. (JDP/SCA-PIA CAR, Benguet)
