^{Registrants in the Bicol Region getting their biometric and demographic information captured as they register to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys)}

12 February 2024 – LEGAZPI CITY. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region-V has successfully registered a total of 432,561 individuals for the year 2023, and a total of 4.59 million individuals since the start of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registration in 2021 achieving 90.14% of its registration target. Nationwide, a total of 83 million Filipinos registered for the National ID since the year 2021.

Among the provinces in the Bicol Region, the province of Camarines Sur registered the most number of individuals with 139,342 individuals registered to PhilSys for the year 2023, followed closely by the province of Masbate with 134,533 individuals. Meanwhile, the province of Catanduanes registered a total 10,387 individuals to PhilSys for the year 2023, achieving 99.86% of its registration target, the highest among the provinces in Bicol. Cumulatively, for the year 2021 to 2023, the province of Camarines Sur has registered a total of 1.47 million individuals to PhilSys, the most among the provinces in Bicol Region. This is followed by the province of Albay registering 1 million individuals to the National ID.

PSA-V has also issued a total of 1.2 million ePhilIDs to individuals. The ePhilID is a proactive strategy of the PSA that will allow more Filipinos to immediately enjoy the benefits of being PhilSys-registered. The ePhilID has the same functionality and validity as the physical card. The PSA-V also reiterates that there is a PhilID allocated for each registered person. This means that even though an ePhilID was issued to a registered person, a PhilID will still be delivered to the address provided during PhilSys registration.

In addition, the PSA and its printing and delivery partners, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost), respectively, are also ensuring the quality printing and immediate delivery of the PhilIDs. As of December 27, 2023, a total of 2.97 million PhilIDs were delivered in the Bicol Region.

Meanwhile, the PSA is also replacing PhilIDs with peeled-off photos. This can be done by filling out a request form for replacement and surrendering the PhilID with peeled-off photo at any PhilSys Registration Center. Requesting for a replacement of a PhilID with a peeled-off photo is free of charge, along with the new PhilID for releasing to the registered person.

The PSA-V is also exhausting all means to register the last mile of the population. Through mobile registration efforts, PSA personnel are ensuring coverage of Filipinos residing in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). For instance, the PSA-V implemented the PhilSys-on-Wheels, where vehicles carrying registration kits are brought to GIDAs to register residents on the spot.

Meanwhile, PhilSys services remain available in fixed registration centers (https://philsys.gov.ph/registration-center) nationwide and are open to walk-in registrations. Filipinos who have yet to register to PhilSys can head to any registration center and bring their supporting documents.