The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) continues its implementation of Step 2 Registration for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) through a gradual, small-scale basis. Step 2 involves validating supporting documents and capturing biometric information such as fingerprints, iris scan, and front-facing photograph at designated registration centers.
As of 03 February 2021, the PSA recorded 15,873 Step 2 registrations since January this year. In Luzon, registration centers in Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bataan, Zambales, and Batangas are now operating to cater to low-income individuals who completed Step 1 Registration in 2020. Meanwhile, in Visayas, registration centers are also available in the provinces of Cebu, Iloilo, Bohol, Leyte, Negros Occidental, and Negros Oriental.
Step 1 Registration is the house-to-house collection of demographic information of the registrants, and appointment setting for the Step 2 Registration. PSA notifies registrants via SMS of their registration schedule, and the documents they need to bring in the next step. The PSA is able to manage the number of persons at the registration centers, and implement necessary health protocols such as social distancing, because the registrants were scheduled to visit by batches.
“Mayroon po kaming paalala sa kanila na magdala ng appointment slip, dalhin ang mga dokumento nila (valid document, primary at secondary), magdala ng sariling face shield at face mask, at magsuot nang maayos na damit para mapabilis din po ang registration at operasyon namin,” said PhilSys Supervisor, Anderson Padilla.
PSA coordinates with local government units (LGUs) in facilitating on-site registration to ensure the ease and smoothness of the process. LGUs from the 32 initial provinces for Step 1 Registration had earlier cooperated with PSA in identifying low-income households within their respective barangays.
“[Makatutulong ang PhilSys] para magkaroon kami ng database lalong-lalo na sa aming opisina para maitala at magkaroon ng pagkakakilanlan ang labis na mahihirap dito sa aming bayan ng Kawit,” said Alden Mangnubang, Officer-in-Charge of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Kawit.
“Okay po [ang registration]. Inaasikaso nila ang mga dumadating na magpaparehistro. Nagdi-disinfect sila, may [queueing] number para mabilis ang daloy ng tao,” said registrant, Ma. Lyka Wael from Cavite on the Step 2 Registration process.
PSA also partners with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) to enable registrants to open bank accounts on site after completing Step 2 Registration. This co-location registration of PSA and LANDBANK is one of the PhilSys’ strategies to promote financial inclusion for all Filipinos. With the PhilID, low-income Filipinos will have a valid proof of identity that will allow them to enjoy the benefits of basic banking and other financial services, also making them less vulnerable to informal and predatory lending practices.
Registrant Alvin Aspuria shared his experience with the LANDBANK co-location strategy, “Wala po akong account sa LANDBANK. Hindi kami nagbabangko ni misis, sa bahay lang. Ngayon po, hindi ko inaasahan na magkakaroon ako ng account sa LANDBANK [sa tulong ng PhilSys registration]. Napakaganda po para sa akin. Maaari [na kaming] makapagdeposito ng pera para sa future ng aming mga anak.”
A total of 3,623 PhilSys registrants opened transactional accounts through the co-location strategy as of 01 February 2021.
The Step 2 Registration shall be followed by the third and final step of the PhilSys registration, which is the issuance of the PhilSys Number (PSN), and the PhilID. The PSN is a randomly generated number, and will serve as a permanent identification number for every registrant used for digital transactions. PSA partnered with PHLPost for the delivery of the PSN and PhilID to successful registrants.
For the latest information on PhilSys, please visit the official PhilSys website (www.psa.gov.ph/philsys) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PSAPhilSysOfficial/). You may also reach the PhilSys Registry Office via hotline number 1388 or e-mail at info@philsys.gov.ph.
-PhilSys Registry Office
