The Philippine Statistics Authority in Negros Oriental on Monday resumed registration of citizens to the government’s national identification system following a hiatus due to the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in the Province.
PSA Provincial Director Engr. Ariel Fortuito told the media in an interview his office has deployed 16 registration kits to different towns and cities for the Philippine Identification System registration.
“We were not able to start immediately the registration process this year as many towns and cities, especially in the central and northern parts of the Province, were badly devastated by Typhoon Odette,” Fortuito said.
Following the onslaught of the typhoon on Dec. 16 last year, many areas were left without electricity and Internet connection, he noted.
This rendered an interruption in the national ID registration, but now, some areas, have already been partially energized and internet connection has been restored, Fortuito said.
Some of the areas which resumed registration beginning Jan. 24 are Siaton, Sta. Catalina, Bayawan City, Tanjay City, and Bais City.
The PSA-Negros Oriental was given a target of 400,000 registrants for this year, Fortuito noted.
The office hit 98.70 percent of its target as of Dec. 31, or 843,127 registrants, with a remaining workload of 11,130 individuals.
Signed into law by President 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 will be 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 this one ID for all transactions. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
