PSA expects to meet ID registration goal of 50-70 million this year
THE PHILIPPINE Statistics Authority (PSA)听said it is听on track听to meet its national ID registration target听of听50–70 million by year鈥s end.听
鈥The PSA is on track to hit the 50-70 million听registration听for 2021. The PSA registration teams, all over the country, are registering about 250,000 registrants per day in 81 provinces and the five provincial offices of the NCR (National Capital Region),鈥听PSA Undersecretary Dennis Clare S. Mapa said in a text message Tuesday.听
He said the target is to complete both the demographic and biometric registration processes within the year for the听program, which听is known as the听Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).听
As of July 16, the agency was able to听complete听38.157 million听step 1 registrations听through house-to-house visits and听visits online platform.听
The first step captures demographic data听on听registrants. They are听then听scheduled for the next step, which is biometrics collection at designated sites.听
The PSA听has听recorded the biometrics of 19.257 million听registrants.听
A parallel effort to听get more citizens to open bank accounts saw the听opening of听4.87 million听accounts with听Land Bank of听the Philippines, which maintains a presence at听the registration centers.听
Mr. Mapa said听the PSA听and the central bank听have听completed printing 2.1 million national ID cards so far and released 1.82 million to听the听Philippine Postal Corp. for delivery.听
Republic Act 1105, signed in 2018, established PhilSys as the national ID, with the intent of听serving听as听the听single听ID in lieu of the multiple听other forms of ID deemed acceptable for transactions like opening bank accounts.听
The government also听hopes听to听broaden听financial inclusion听by making opening bank accounts easier.听
The听Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last month ordered听banks to accept the national ID as a sole proof of identity for those wanting to open accounts.听
The national ID is also expected to help the government with its social programs. The lack of a centralized identification system was blamed for the slow distribution of cash aid to poor households last year.听鈥斕Beatrice M.听Laforga听
