PHILIPPINE Identification Cards (PhilIDs) for delivery in Manila City were affected by the massive fire that gutted the Manila Central Post Office, said the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Monday, May 22, 2023.

The fire started around 11:40 p.m. Sunday, May 21, and was put under control more than seven hours after it broke out, or at 7:22 a.m. Monday, May 22.

READ: Fire destroys nearly 100-year-old Manila Central Post Office

Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa, national statistician and civil registrar general of PSA, said in a statement that they are closely coordinating with the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) regarding the affected PhilIDs.

The Manila Central Post Office is PHLPost’s central office and mail-sorting and distribution hub.

Mapa said that based on initial information provided by the PHLPost, only PhilIDs for delivery in the City of Manila were affected by the blaze.

He said they are working with PHLPost to determine the number of PhilIDs affected.

“We also wish to clarify that PhilIDs for delivery of the PHLPost are sorted and stored at the PHLPost Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City and were unaffected by the fire,” Mapa said.

He assured the public that PhilIDs affected by the fire will be replaced by the agency “at no additional cost to concerned registered persons, following protocols set by the PSA for such scenarios.”

As of May 5, 2023, a total of 78,597,719 Filipinos have already registered with the Philippine Identification System, the PSA website showed. (LMY)