THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has successfully registered over 80 million Filipinos to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).
As of July 11, 2023, 80,004,098 Filipinos are already PhilSys-registered.
"This is a significant portion of our entire population. The PSA is now down to the last mile of our target registration for PhilSys. This achievement would not have been possible without the hard work of our field personnel, our collaboration with partner agencies, and most importantly, the steadfast support of the public for the project," said PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General.
"We continue to call on all Filipinos to register for PhilSys in any of our registration centers nationwide," he added.
The PSA currently implements walk-in registration to further its accessibility to the public.
Rbin Binuya from Sta. Mesa, Manila is one of the many Filipinos who completed walk-in PhilSys registration in a mall in Quezon City.
"Medyo nag-aalangan ako noong una kasi dalawang secondary ID lang ang dala ko. Nauna sa akin ang kaibigan ko at matagumpay naman siyang nakapag-register kaya sinubukan ko na rin," he said.
(I was a bit hesitant at first because I only had two secondary IDs with me. My friend was ahead of me and he registered successfully so I gave it a try.)
"Mabilis lang ang proseso na umabot ng mga 15 minutes. Masasabi kong sobrang efficient ng mga staff and very accommodating," he added.
(The process is quick and takes about 15 minutes. I can say that the staff is very efficient and very accommodating.)
Minors aged five and above accompanied by parents or guardians may also register at any registration center. To make registration easier for students and their parents, PSA field offices are also conducting school-based registration activities.
Mobile registration is also continuous in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (Gida) to ensure that the population in far-flung areas can register.
Registration activities are also being conducted in various institutions. Recently, the PSA partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the institutional registration of delivery riders nationwide.
Adrian Loterio is one of the delivery riders who were able to register to PhilSys through the partnership. For him, the registration process was fast and convenient.
"Before 'yun nga iniisip namin, mahaba yung pila [at] mahaba yung kakaining oras. Sayang kasi. Imbes na kumikita kami, nakapila kami (Before, we thought the queue was long [and] it would take much time for us to complete the process. Because instead of making money, we will stand in line)," he said. "Dito mas maganda [dahil] part ng trabaho namin, kumikita kami, nakapagpa-register pa kami (Here it's better [because] we make money and able to register)."
Meanwhile, parallel to the increasing number of registered persons, Filipinos are experiencing the benefits of being PhilSys-registered as more establishments honor the PhilID and ePhilID in various transactions.
Ronie Lanot, a fisherman from Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, was able to use his PhilID to claim the financial assistance provided for fisherfolk affected by the oil spill in the waters off the municipality.
"Tatlong buwan na kaming hindi nakapangisda... [Nagamit ko ang PhilID] sa ayuda na kailangan namin," he said.
(We haven't been able to fish for three months... [I was able to use PhilID] for the assistance we needed.)
The PSA continues to onboard public and private institutions in the acceptance of the PhilID and ePhilID to enable access to services.
"Hangad namin sa PSA na mapakinabangan agad ng ating mga kababayan ang kanilang pagiging PhilSys-registered. Kasabay ng pagpaparehistro, patuloy din ang aming pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga tanggapan ng gobyerno at private sector para sa pagtanggap at pagkilala ng PhilID at ePhilID," Mapa said.
(We at PSA wish our compatriots to immediately take advantage of their being PhilSys-registered. Along with the registration, we also continue to engage with government and private sector offices for the acceptance and recognition of PhilID and ePhilID.) (PR)