PSA-7 exceeds national ID target for Central Visayas

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Statistics Authority in Central Visayas (PSA-7) reported it has exceeded the region s goal to the National ID System by 101 percent, registering at 7.04 million.

In a data released by PSA-7, the Central Visayas posted a total of 7,107,744 individuals with National ID.

The Province of Cebu recorded the highest number of registered individuals, with 4,499,646 individuals.

This was followed by Negros Oriental, with 1,272,638; Bohol Province, with 1,237,213; and Siquijor Province, with 98,247 registrants.

The implementation of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) is aimed at providing a unified and secure national identification system.

The PSA-7 is still continuing the conduct of the National ID registration this year, now with expanded coverage including children below one year old.

Walk-in registration remains available at designated registration centers throughout the region, while mobile registration efforts and collaborations with partner agencies are also present in order for all the people to gain access to the system.

To date, a total of 4,503,238 National ID cards have been delivered across Central Visayas.

Registrants can track the delivery status of their National ID cards, through the PHLPost tracking website using its 29-digit Transaction Reference Number (TRN) found in their transaction slip.

Aside from physical National ID cards, registered individuals can also obtain an ePhilID or digital national ID, both of which hold the same functionality and validity as the physical card.

These digital versions are valid forms of identification for transactions, subject to authentication.

In a further expansion of the National ID system, PSA also announced that children below one year old can now be registered.

To register an infant, the parent or guardian must already be enrolled in the National ID system. The child s National ID Number will be linked to the parent or guardian s ID number.

If a parent or guardian has not yet registered, he/she may do so simultaneously with their child at any PSA registration center or co-location site.

During registration, the accompanying parent or guardian must present any of the following supporting documents: a certificate of live birth issued by the PSA or Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO), a report of birth issued by the PSA or the Philippine Foreign Service Post (PFSP), a certificate of foundling issued by the PSA, or any other document showing the child s full name, date and place of birth, and the full names of both parents, if acknowledged.

Contrary to adult registrants, only the demographic information and a front-facing photograph of the child will be captured at the time of registration.

The complete biometric data, including fingerprints and iris scans, will be collected when the child reaches the age of five.

The PSA continued to encourage all eligible Filipinos to register for the National ID system, emphasizing the advantage of a standardized identification system for access to government and private sector services. — /JG (FREEMAN)