Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa, Ph.D., National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), observed the implementation of Step 1 of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) or the pre-registration of the targeted registrants on Monday, October 12, 2020 in La Union. 

Usec. Mapa, together with Atty. Sheila O. De Guzman, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of PSA - Regional Statistical Services Office I (RSSO I); Danites E. Teñido, Ph.D., Chief Statistical Specialist (CSS) of PSA-La Union; Susan Cora F. Hufana, PhilSys Focal Person of PSA-La Union; Juanito Y. Yabes, CSS of the Statistical Operations and Coordination Division (SOCD);  Camille Carla U. Beltran, OIC of the Civil Registration and Administrative Services Division (CRASD); and the PhilSys Coordination Team of PSA-La Union, had a courtesy call with Mayor Menchie L. De Guzman of Bauang, La Union.

During the courtesy call, Usec. Mapa informed Mayor De Guzman that the first day of initial implementation of the pre-registration is October 12 and will last until December 30, 2020.  He also enumerated the ten demographic characteristics that will be gathered through house-to-house visits of the registration officers using tablets.  Furthermore, he informed the Mayor that the priority in the last quarter of the year are low-income household heads and adult members but in the succeeding years until 2022 will cover most Filipinos.   He also explained that the National ID will provide a valid proof of identity for all Filipinos and will eliminate the need to present other forms of identification like in the opening of bank account and transacting with the government and private sector. 

On issue of duplication of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiaries, Usec. Mapa explained to Mayor De Guzman that duplication of recipients will be eliminated with the National ID.  “Ang isang kagandahan ng National ID Mayor, dahil biometrics tayo, meron tayong authentication,” said Usec. Mapa. 

In addition, he also informed that this will facilitate opening of bank account of SAP beneficiaries.  He said, “Of course ang importante, yung mga ayuda ay mailalagay na sa bangko, kasi pag nakakuha na sila ng National ID ay pwede na silang mag open ng bank account kasi accepted na yun o di kaya ay digital payment gaya ng G-Cash o PayMaya.”

Mayor De Guzman said, “On our end, we do our part… kung anuman ang mga guidelines natin sa taas should be implemented down to the barangay level.” The Mayor expressed her support to the programs of the PSA starting from the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH) and the on-going implementation of the PhilSys. 

After courtesy call at the Mayor’s Office, the team together with Municipal Civil Registrar (MCR) Eumelia Mendoza,proceeded to Barangay Santiago, Bauang where Usec. Mapa also had courtesy call with Barangay Captain Carlito Tangalin.  Usec. Mapa observed the first household head and adult member registrants in the barangay who were given appointment slip for the Step 2-registration proper, after collection of their demographic information.  The appointment slip will be brought by the registrant to the registration center as scheduled.  During the Step 2, the biometric information of the registrant will be captured and this will start on November 25, 2020. 

Usec. Mapa and team also visited Barangay Payocpoc Sur in Bauang, La Union.  Usec. Mapa had courtesy call with Barangay Captain Virginia Ardina.  He was given opportunity to meet the barangay officials and Barangay Health Workers and explained to them the objectives of the PhilSys.  He also answered queries particularly on why there are target registrants this year.  After which, Usec. Mapa and the team went to the residence of target registrants and observed the conduct of pre-registration.  Usec. Mapa and his team also inspected the proposed registration center of the municipality.

Moreover, Usec. Mapa and his team headed to San Gabriel, La Union and had courtesy call with Mayor Herminigildo M. Velasco.  The team went to Barangay Bucao and made a courtesy call with Barangay Captain Rodolfo Abat.  Usec. Mapa informed the barangay captain that this is only part 1 of the Philsys implementation and requested him for their support by providing transportation to his constituents who will go to the registration center situated at the Municipal Hall of San Gabriel during Step 2 of the registration.  “Sana matulungan natin ang ating kababayan na makapunta sa registration center,” said Usec. Mapa.

Another barangay in San Gabriel was visited by Usec. Mapa and team, that is, Barangay Bumbuneg.  He had courtesy call with Barangay Captain Romeo Estolas.  He also informed the barangay official on what is PhilSys and who will be covered this year.  When asked on fees, Usec. Mapa said that there will be no fee in securing a PhilID. Once process will becompleted, he said that the ID will be delivered by the PhilPost to their respective residence.

“Kung nafinal register ka, baka late December or early January madeliver,” said Usec. Mapa.He also asked for support of the barangay official by conducting information campaign to his constituents.     After courtesy call, the team went to the residence of a target registrant and observed the pre-registration.

Meanwhile, MCR Gemma Cortez who also joined the team during the field visit, said that registration center in San Gabriel will be situated at the Local Civil Registrar’s Office.

La Union is among the 32 provinces where the PhilSys field operation is currently implemented until end of last quarter of 2020.  About 127,568 target low-income household heads and about the same number for adult household members will be pre-registered by 98 Registration Officer I (RO I) who will be supervised by 22 Registration Officer II (RO II) in La Union.  Most of them reside in their city/municipality of assignment for easier access to the barangays included in the pre-registration. 

The 32 provinces located in ten regions were selected based on mobility restrictions in the transport of Information Technology equipment to be used, travels of personnel attending trainings, recruitment, and hiring as a consequence of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. 

The PSA targets to register at least five million household heads of low-income families and pre-register at least 9 million persons.The project will be implemented in a three-step approach to protect the registration team and target registrants against the risks of the COVID-19 infection. In Step 1, PSA will conduct house-to-house visits to collect demographic data.  Step 2 requires the registrants to visit the registration centers based on the given appointment schedule that will run from November 25 to December 30, 2020.  Step 3 of the registration is the issuance of a physical ID card stored with 12-digit PhilSys Number (PSN) and 16-digit PhilSys Card Number (PCN).  

The PSA registration officers will adhere to the government’s safety standards to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 like practice of stringent disinfection measures, wearing of face masks and face shield, and observance of physical distancing during registration. The PSA also ensures strict compliance with the PhilSys Act of 2018 and Data Privacy Act of 2012.  ###

SGD. DANITES E. TEÑIDO, Ph.D.
Chief Statistical Specialist