PhilSys Step 1 Registration Approaches 6 Million Mark Despite Typhoons

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced that 5,788,615 Filipinos have already completed Step 1 Registration of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) as of 20 November 2020. This step includes the house-to-house collection of the demographic information of low-income household heads in the 32 priority provinces for 2020. 

The select provinces include: Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Davao De Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Leyte, and Tawi-tawi.

This brings total registrations to 58.7 percent of the PSA’s 9 million target for Step 1 by the end of the year. More details can be found here: PhilSys Step 1 Registration Progress.

The PSA also reported that 89 percent of registrants so far have signified that they currently do not have bank accounts. According to the PSA, this emphasizes the importance of ensuring the rollout of the country’s national ID program, as one of the main hindrances to financial inclusion is the lack of formal identification. PhilSys will allow more Filipinos access to basic banking services and make them less vulnerable to informal lending practices that charge onerous interest rates. Formal identification will also help Filipinos access government and financial services.

“Mainam [na magkaroon ng National ID] gaya sa akin na may anak sa ibang bansa,” said a registrant from Rizal. “Para kung anumang transaksyon ang gusto niyang mangyari dito [saj Pilipinas], o kung anumang kailangan niyang ipalakad sa’kin, magagamit ko ‘yung National ID.”

On the safety and convenience of the house-to-house procedure, registrant Gloria Palania said, “Okay ‘to, kasi gaya kong senior citizen, lalo na ngayong may pandemic, di mo na kailangan makipagsiksikan. Buti kung ganito, at least, hindi kayo maiistorbo. Kayo lang ng interviewer at ‘yung sasagot.”

The PSA is set to begin Step 2 of PhilSys registration, which will involve the capture of biometric information, such as fingerprints and iris scans, once the required systems are fully functional and secure. Among the major preparatory activities for Step 2 is the deployment of more than 4,000 registration kits to the target provinces.

“We partnered with the Department of National Defense to transport our registration kits to the 32 provinces, but due to the recent typhoons and the resulting relief efforts, we are encountering minor delays. We ask for the public’s understanding of the situation as the delivery of assistance to those affected by the typhoon is of utmost importance. We have notified, via text message, the registrants who were set to undergo Step 2 registration from November 25 to 30 about the change in schedule. Barangay officials in registration areas were requested to inform their constituents. Personnel from the Provincial Statistics Offices were also instructed to man the registration centers to inform registrants of developments, in case there are still some that will arrive at the registration sites,” said Assistant Secretary Rosalinda P. Bautista, Deputy National Statistician of the PhilSys Registry Office (PRO).

PSA had earlier announced that the government is prioritizing the registration of household heads belonging to low-income families. By providing formal identification, PhilSys will help low-income families access basic banking services and allow faster distribution of future government subsidies. PhilSys also aims to improve the lives of Filipinos by making transactions with the government simple, safe, secure, seamless, and more efficient.

Step 1, which involves the house-to-house collection of demographic information, is the first out of the three-step registration process for the PhilSys. Step 2 will involve capturing the registrants’ biometric data such as fingerprint scans, iris scans, and a front-facing photograph at registration centers. Finally, Step 3 will involve the issuance of the PhilSys Number (PSN) and the physical ID (PhilID).

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