PRE-REGISTRATION for the national ID system started in the City of San Fernando on October 12, with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the city civil registry office collecting names, ages, and other demographic information of residents.

This is pursuant to Republic Act 11055, "An Act Establishing the Philippine Identification System," mandating a single official ID interconnected with all other IDs issued by the government be issued to every Filipino.

The pre-registration, however, will cover only some five million heads of households all over the country identified in the "Listahanan" program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the PSA said.

The City of San Fernando has been designated as pilot area for the pre-registration along with other cities and towns in the initially targeted 32 provinces.

"Prayoridad na maparehistro ang mga low-income household heads upang mapadali ang pagbubukas nila ng bank accounts para sa pagtanggap ng tulong mula sa pamahalaan at upang maiwasan ang pandaraya," said PSA in its official website.

It added that the national ID system is aimed at "facilitating the delivery of government services, strengthening social protection and financial inclusion, and advancing the Philippines' shift towards an inclusive digital economy."

For the city, targeted for pre-registration are 28,590 individuals.

"Dalawang indibidwal bawat isang pamilya ang ating target. Mayroon po tayong kabuuang 14,295 target families sa lahat ng barangay kaya umabot sa 28,590 ang kabuuang bilang ng indibidwal na maisasama sa ating pre-registration activity," said city civil registrar Rimando Umali.

Barangay San Jose has the largest number of expected registrants with over 2,800 prioritized households, he said.

Pre-registration procedures comprise the submission by the surveyed individual of his/her personal information, including full name, address, date and place of birth. A PSA-issued birth certificate or any proof of identity must also be presented.

"Ang pre-registration po, kung saan kinukuhanan natin ng impormasyon at binibigyan natin ng appointment ang mga indibidwal, ay susundan ng registration proper. Pagkatapos nito ay maghihintay ng isang linggo o higit pa ang isang indibidwal bago makuha ang ID, through pick-up o maaari ring i-deliver sa kanila," said PSA Pampanga Registration Officer II AJ Kevin Samson.

The pre-registration process will pave the way for actual registration starting November 25, which will involve collection of biometric information, PSA Assistant Secretary Rosalinda Bautista said in a recent radio interview. (PR)