The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has enlisted 958,280 household heads in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), surpassing its target for the area by nearly 38 percent.
Lawyer Maqtahar Manulon, PSA-12 director, said Friday the number comprises individuals who have completed the first step of the registration process as of April 13, which is equivalent to 137.78 percent accomplishment based on the initial 695,520 projection.
Manulon said all provinces in the region exceeded their targets for Step 1 or the pre-registration and collection of the basic demographic data of the targeted respondents.
Sultan Kudarat posted the highest accomplishment with 140.74 percent or 180,878 registered out of the targeted 128,520 household heads, followed by North Cotabato with 137.77 percent or 317,665 registered out of 230,580; Sarangani with 137.68 percent or 255,014 registered out of 185,220; and South Cotabato with 135.4 percent or 204,723 registered out of 151,200.
Each of the 184 deployed data collectors in the identified barangays enlisted an average of 71 individuals per day in 73 days of operation.
The registration process for Step 1 started simultaneously last January 18 and was initially slated until March 31, but PSA said it has been extended until April 30 or 23 more days.
“(This is) to cover more registrants in the region,” Manulon said in a report.
He said the extension was intended for registrants in areas without Internet connectivity and those belonging to low-income families residing in highly urbanized cities.
Manulon assured that their field personnel strictly follow health and safety measures in line with the continuing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
As of March 31, the agency registered 913,218 individuals in Soccsksargen or 131.3 percent of the targeted “poorest of the poor” households.
He assured that the agency remains on track for Step 2 of the process, which will immediately start next month.
Step 2 involves collecting biometrics, identification, or ID card scanning, and processing the final photo of the registrants that will be conducted in the PSA provincial offices.
Signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in August 2018, Republic Act 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act, aims to establish a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident aliens.
The national ID shall be a valid proof of identity that shall be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and the 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)
