NegOr Among Pilot Areas for PhilSys Registration in Sept

The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) mass registration for all Filipino residents is expected to start in September this year in selected priority areas in the country.

In an orientation conference with partner agencies, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region7 Regional Director Ariel Florendo disclosed that 2nd District of Negros Oriental in Central Visayas is among the first target areas in the country under the Phase 1 implementation of the National ID System.

Republic Act No. 11055 signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte creates a central identification platform for all Filipino citizens and resident aliens to simplify or facilitate public and private transactions or for easy doing business.

Under Phase 1 implementation from September to December 2019, Florendo said initial PhilSys mass registration for general population has targeted specific areas from Valenzuela City, Boracay in Region 6, 2nd District of Negros Oriental, and Davao City.

All government offices in National Capital Region (NCR), and Sr. Citizens in Lipa City, Batangas of Region 4-A will be among the first to be registered.

The general population of 2nd District of Pampanga, 2nd District of Laguna and Bacoor City of Cavite, Marawi City of ARMM, and Mandaya Tribe in Surigao del Sur of Caraga Region are also part of the priority residents to be registered.

The PSA official presented that information to be collected and stored under the PhilSys shall be limited to the following: demographic data contains full name, sex, date and place of birth, blood type, address, and for biometric data include front facing photograph, ten fingerprints, and iris scan.

However, Florendo stressed that data on marital status, mobile number and email addresses are optional.

“This is a pilot test, and since it’s a new system to us, thus this cannot be open to all immediately in one time mass registration to lessen technical problems if there’s any,” said Florendo.

Nevertheless, the scheduled registration is set to target 6 million Filipino citizens for this year, 29 million Filipinos and resident aliens in January to June 2020, 70 million residents in July 2020 to June 2022, 5 million Filipino residents and resident aliens in July 2022 to December 2022, and 10 million Overseas Filipinos for July 2020 to December 2022.

The PSA assumes that the target population to be registered in the 2nd District of Negros Oriental will reach over half a million given the projected population of 2015’s census.

Areas to be covered in the registration include the 175 barangays of the five municipalities of Sibulan, San Jose, Amlan, Pamplona, and Mabinay and three cities of Dumaguete, Tanjay and Bais in the 2nd district from September to December 2019.

For smooth implementation, Florendo requested partner agencies to identify registration centers, coordination, and cooperation including an operation plan. (jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)