PSA holds ceremonial event to celebrate PhilSys

March 19, 2021 0 Comments

QUEZON CITY — As the rollout of the registration to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) continues to expand to more provinces, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) celebrated the priority program’s milestones in an online ceremonial event held on Friday, 19 March 2021. The event was streamed via the official PhilSys Facebook page.

The ceremonial event highlighted key achievements of the PhilSys and its simple three-step registration process, including the registration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

In a video message, the President lauded the efforts of PSA and its partner agencies to implement PhilSys registration. “As we pursue this long-overdue project, I ask every Filipino to give PhilSys a chance so that we may maximize the advantages of a universal and secure database that will make transactions more efficient and our lives more convenient,” he said.

One of the objectives of the PhilSys is to provide a valid proof of identification to Filipinos and resident aliens, and this is envisioned to transform how services are delivered and accessed in the Philippines by making public and private transactions seamless, safe, and efficient. PhilSys will provide Filipinos easier access to financial, social protection, health, education, and other government services. As a central identification platform, the system uses a person’s unique biometric information to authenticate identity. “Bilang isang foundational digital ID system, babaguhin ng PhilSys kung paano inihahatid at ina-access ang mga serbisyo sa bansa,” said PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, in his speech. 

“Ito ay dinisenyo upang mabigyan ang mga Pilipino ng mas maayos na access sa mga serbisyo mula sa pamahalaan at pribadong sektor, at gawin itong mas madali, mas mabilis, at mas abot kaya. Ang PhilID ay hindi lang isang karagdagang ID sa inyong kasalukuyang valid IDs. Sa pamamagitan ng PhilSys, maisasagawa ng mga Pilipino ang mga transaksyon nang hindi nangangailangan ng pisikal na presensya, pisikal na dokumento at cash… isang hakbang tungo sa layunin nating digital economy,” Usec. Mapa added.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno, in his remarks, cited the prospect of PhilSys as a national identification system, especially for financial services. “Sa pamamagitan ng PhilSys, hindi lamang mas madali at magaan ang pagbukas ng bank account kundi maaari ring mas mapadali ang paggamit at mas gumanda pa ang ibang serbisyo ng mga bangko at iba pang institusyon. Nabigyan ng malaking parte ang PhilSys sa pagpapatupad ng BSP digitalization agenda para sa Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap 2020-2023. Sa katunayan, isa ang PhilSys sa pinakamahalagang parte ng digital finance,” Governor Diokno said.

Step 1 Registration for the PhilSys began in October 2020 in 32 priority provinces. Despite the pandemic, more than 20 million Filipinos have completed this step to date. Among them was low-income household farmer

Brian Gatchalian, who completed Step 1 registration in late 2020. “Malaking tulong po ang PhilID para sa pangarap ko po sa pamilya ko,” Gatchalian said in gratitude to the project and as encouragement for his fellow Filipinos, especially farmers, to participate in the rollout of PhilSys registration.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Acting Secretary

Karl Kendrick T. Chua further encouraged citizens to register, emphasizing PhilSys’ goal this year to successfully register at least 50 million individuals. “Patuloy ang ating trabaho tungo sa ating layuning mairehistro ang hindi bababa sa limampung-milyong indibidwal ngayong 2021,” he said. “Nais kong gamitin ang pagkakataong ito upang anyayahan ang lahat na makilahok sa Philsys para lahat tayo ay makatanggap ng mga benepisyong dulot ng National ID. Ipinakita sa ceremonial event na ito kung gaano kadali at ligtas ang pagrehistro sa PhilSys. Sa pagdating ng registration sa inyong lugar, nais naming bigyang-paalala ang lahat na sundin ang minimum health standards kontra COVID-19. Makakaasa kayo na sisiguraduhin ng aming registration officers na masusunod ang mga pamantayang ito.”

In partnership with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), PSA also formally introduced #IDNatin, the official hashtag for PhilSys. The campaign features an exclusive anthem composed and produced by HIT Productions, Inc. and sang by PhilSys ambassadors Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli and Matteo Guidicelli. It also aims to raise awareness on social media platforms and encourage the public to prepare and participate once the online registration opens. The online Step 1 Registration is expected to be launched in April 2021. For further information and official announcements, visit the PhilSys website (www.psa.gov.ph/philsys) or the PhilSys Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PSAPhilSysOfficial/).

– PhilSys Registry Office