The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced significant progress in Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) aimed at providing a unique and secure identity for Filipino citizens, streamlining public and private transactions and enhancing efficiency of government operations.
“With a keen focus on the accuracy, reliability, integrity and confidentiality of data collected from the Filipino citizens, and adherence to professional standards, the PSA has achieved noteworthy milestones in its mission,” the agency said Tuesday.
It said that as of Sept. 1, 2023, the PSA registered 80.54 million Filipinos, representing 87.5 percent of the population aged 5 years old and above. Of the total, 78.12 million individuals were issued a unique PhilSys Number (PSN), ensuring their distinct identity through the verification of their demographic and biometric information.
The PSA said it meticulously manages the issuance of PhilID and ePhilID, with a rigorous quality assurance process and stringent protocols in place to ensure that every card accurately reflects an individual’s valid demographic and biometric (front-facing photo) data, further enhancing the system’s integrity.
It said the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) delivered 38.51 million PhilIDs, and the PSA already issued 40.61 million ePhilIDs which could be used for transactions needing proof of identify and age.
The PhilSys registry containing the 78.12 million individuals with unique PSN serves as the primary data source for both the PhilID produced at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) printing facility and the ePhilID printed by the PSA.
The registry also serves as the foundation for the digital ID, which is produced by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The PSA noted that the DICT, along with other government agencies, actively participates in the PhilSys Policy and Coordination Council (PSPCC), organized pursuant to Republic Act No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act, to formulate policies and guidelines to ensure effective coordination and implementation of the PhilSys thereby assuring a unified and secure approach to data management.
“As a result, data used by the DICT is protected from corruption, guaranteeing the quality of biometric information,” it said.
The PSA said that as the central authority of the Philippine government for data collection, covering statistical data, civil registration, National ID, and Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), it upholds its unwavering commitment in maintaining a robust system in all aspects of data collection, processing, storage, and presentation, guided by professional standards, scientific principles and ethical standards.
The PSA said it remains dedicated to its mission of providing a robust and secure identification system for all Filipinos.
“The ongoing collaboration with government agencies and the commitment to data integrity, confidentiality and security will continue to be at the core of the PhilSys to ensure the success of this significant national initiative,” it said.