AT WORK. The Philippine Identification System registration center in Digos, Davao del Sur entertains Philippine ID applicants at the PSA Satellite Office. As of April 15, a total 541,812 Davao Region residents have already completed Steps 1 and Step 2 registration for the national ID card. (Photo courtesy of Ana Flor Barrios Facebook)
DAVAO CITY – It was probably the fastest transaction that Ladz Royo Guimalan ever had.
In less than hour, the resident of Central Park Subdivision in Bangkal, Davao City was done with her Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registration.
“National ID Registration done! Thank you for the priority. Breastfeed, so in less than 1 hour I'm done. Told me that it's a prio[rity],” she posted on Facebook on March 26, 2021.
What’s more, Guimalan was able to open a Land Bank of the Philippines account just by showing her transaction slip and another identification card.
Raymund Escurzon, a senior citizen, also shared on Facebook on the same day that he, too, was prioritized and has already completed Steps 1 and 2 of the PhilSys registration.
“I am lucky, too, because I am in the priority list, being a senior citizen,” he posted.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is allotting special lanes for the vulnerable sector during the PhilSys registration – persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant or nursing mothers included.
Starting April 15, PSA-Region 11 (Davao) accommodated even those who were not visited for Step 1 (demographic information).
Previously, PSA entertained only those who were preregistered or were visited by PSA enumerators for Step 1 registration, mostly from low-income families.
In Step 2, registrants will go to PhilSys centers for biometrics capture, like iris scan and photographs of front and side view of faces.
Those who received a schedule for Step 2 through text messages will also be prioritized.
Step 3 will be the issuance of the Philippine ID card.
As of April 15, PSA -11 records showed 541,812 residents of Davao Region have already completed Steps 1 and Step 2.
Signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2018, Republic Act 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act, aims to establish a single national ID for Filipinos and resident aliens.
The national ID shall be a valid proof of identity and a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and opening of bank accounts.
It will also boost efficiency, especially in dealing with government services where people will only need to present one ID during transactions. (PNA)
