The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) North Cotabato office launched Tuesday its onsite registration for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) in the province.

Belinda Penuela, PSA provincial head, said the activity aims to hasten the turnout of registrants in Kidapawan City and the province’s 17 towns, in partnership with the local government units (LGUs).

All LGUs in the province expressed their support as they signed the memorandum of agreement between the PSA and the local chief executives.

Based on PSA-North Cotabato data, 419,120 individuals have completed their first-step registration through online and personal appearance in the office here from January 18 to April 30 this year.

The agency targets 774,354 residents in the province for the national identification system this year.

“The second level of registration includes the digital iris and ten-finger scanning,” Penuela said.

Meanwhile, the PSA has established three registration sites for the Step 2 process in barangays Birada and Nuangan and the PSA office in this city while one center each in the towns of Tulunan, M’lang, Aleosan, Libungan, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, and Carmen.

The PSA registration is designed to record all citizens – from newly born babies to the elderly.

However, due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health protocols, only people who have completed the vaccination process are allowed in the meantime, Penuela said.

“Aside from those who registered online, we still allow those walk-in clients who wish to be listed and willing to wait in line,” she said.

Penuela said plans are also underway to bring the PhilSys service to remote barangays but problems with Internet signals are preventing them from doing so.

She said the Philippine Postal Corp. office has been tasked to deliver the identification cards to each individual after completing Levels 1 and 2 of the registration.

“This will serve as a foundational digital ID to replace the regular cards from certain government agencies aside (from) the functional IDs, particularly the license released by the Land Transportation Office, which will undergo synchronization in due time,” Penuela said.

Signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2018, the PhilSys 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)