The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Catanduanes continues to push forward its National ID Integration Initiatives by actively coordinating with both government and private institutions in the province. These efforts aim to promote the wider adoption and acceptance of the National Identification System in various transactions and services. Most recently, PSA Catanduanes engaged in two key integration meetings—first with ARDCI Microfinance Inc. on June 3, and then with the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) of Bato on June 10, 2025.

The June 3 integration meeting with ARDCI was held in a hybrid setup at the Boardroom of ARDCI’s Head Office in Virac, Catanduanes. Attending in person were National ID Regional Focal ROIII Sabao, Provincial Focal ROII Matienzo, and ISA I Tapado from PSA Catanduanes. ARDCI was represented by their IT Director, Jareah Pastorpide, and HR Director, Lisa Faye Surtida. Representatives from the PSA Central Office also joined the session virtually. The discussion focused on several key topics related to the National ID, including its security features, updates on registration progress in the province, various formats of National ID —and the latest available NID services. 

ROII Matienzo highlighted the ongoing efforts to reach the remaining unregistered population in Catanduanes and provided a walkthrough of the end-to-end registration process, from data capture to authentication. ARDCI IT Director Pastorpide raised a question on whether the National ID system supports signature validation, particularly for use in field operations. ROIII Sabao explained that the National ID does not include a signature component by default, as signatures are more prone to forgery. Instead, the system relies on biometric-based authentication using the eVerify platform, which accesses the PhilSys Registry hosted at the PSA Data Center and requires internet connectivity.

To demonstrate the system’s functionality, ISA I Tapado presented the different levels of authentication. He showcased Tier 0 authentication using the National ID Check, which verifies the card visually and through QR scanning. He also demonstrated Tier 2 using eVerify, which provide more secure verification through real-time biometric authentication. These demos highlighted the layered approach to identity validation under the National ID system. 

In support of the integration initiative, ROIII Sabao also presented key government issuances reinforcing the acceptance of the National ID. These included the PSA Advisory dated 11 June 2024, which affirms the validity of the Digital National ID as sufficient proof of identity, and BSP Memorandum No. M-2024-026 dated 09 August 2024, which mandates financial institutions to accept all formats of the National ID and utilize the National ID Authentication Service.

A similar meeting was held at PSO Catanduanes with the LCRO of Bato on 10 June 2025. Municipal Civil Registrar Katherene Vergara andher IT staff joined the discussion. The integration is especially important for civil registry offices, as the National ID is now one of the supporting documents required for processing delayed birth registrations. The meeting highlighted the value of National ID in expediting and securing civil registry transactions at the local level.

Through these initiatives, PSA Catanduanes remains committed to strengthening partnerships with both government and private entities to build a more integrated, secure, and inclusive identity system. The agency will continue to conduct engagements in support of aseamless identity verification process that benefits all sectors of society.