Some 12 more local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have rolled out the registration process for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) starting March 16.

This brings to 18 the total number of LGUs in the province now taking part in the gradual rollout of the Step 2 PhilSys registration for individuals who have already taken Step 1, or the pre-registration, last year.

Luis Gonzales, chief statistical specialist of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Negros Occidental, told the Philippine News Agency Monday that they have started the Step 2 process in the 12 towns and cities, in addition to the six LGUs with ongoing registration since last month.

The LGUs that started the national ID list-up last week are the municipalities of La Castellana, E.B. Magalona, Pulupandan, Pontevedra, Don Salvador Benedicto, Moises Padilla, Isabela and Binalbagan, and the cities of La Carlota, Talisay, Victorias and San Carlos.

The Step 2 registration process involves the validation of supporting documents and capturing the registrants’ biometric information, such as fingerprints, iris scans, and front-facing photographs.

Gonzales said the conduct of the national ID list up in Negros Occidental has been smooth except for about two days last week when the PSA registration office was placed on lockdown to give way to disinfection.

He said with the assistance of LGUs, they assured that there is crowd control and health protocols are followed in the registration centers.

Individuals who have pre-registered are expected to receive a text message, informing them of their schedule for Step 2 and instructing them to proceed to their respective registration centers.

Registration centers will be set up in more LGUs once the PSA central office approves the deployment of teams and the registration machines are already online, Gonzales added.

Based on the data of PSA-Western Visayas, 808,387 low-income household heads and members in Negros Occidental have been pre-registered for the PhilSys.

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 will 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)