More than 821,000 residents have registered for national identification cards in Negros Occidental as of May 21, a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) official said Thursday, May 27.
Luis Gonzales, PSA Negros Occidental chief statistical specialist, said they have exceeded more than 100 percent of their 800,000 target for the province.
However, they are continuing their registration drive since the goal is to reach all Filipinos, he said.
Registration is ongoing in Bacolod malls and in towns and cities of Negros Occidental.
They are catering to persons who are 15 years old and above, he said.
Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have a population of more than 3 million people.
There may be a different system for the registration of those below 15 years old later because fingerprints of children change, he said. Studies show that fingerprints become permanent when one hits 15 years old, he said.
Their initial target last year were the poorest of the poor, many of whom have no identification cards at all, he said.
On Thursday, the PSA was registering provincial Capitol employees at the Social Hall of the Capitol in Bacolod City, and may extend their services there until Friday.
The Philippine Identification System or PhilSys aims to “eliminate the need to present other forms” of IDs when transacting with the government and the private sector.
It is the based on a biometric ID system.*