Some 381 Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registration kits arrived in Negros Occidental this week for distribution to 32 local government units (LGUs) across the province, including this capital city.

The equipment, delivered by Philippine Navy ship BRP Ivatan at the Bredco port Monday night, were transported by troops of the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Provincial Office here.

Luis Gonzales, chief statistical specialist of PSA-Negros Occidental, said on Wednesday the kits will be distributed to all LGUs in the province, where the PSA will establish the national ID registration centers.

“We are still checking the kits to see if these are complete. These will also be reconfigured first before deployment to the LGUs,” Gonzales said in a telephone interview.

Each kit includes a photo booth and other equipment that will be used to capture the biometric information of applicants.

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

Gonzales said of the number, some 400,000 individuals have been initially scheduled for registration from Nov. 25 to Dec. 21, and are expected to receive their ID cards within the year. However, the central office has suspended the registration schedule for Nov. 25 to 30.

Gonzales said there are still provinces that have not received the registration kits.

“We are just waiting for the new date of registration,” he added.

Lt. Col. Gerard Alvaran, commanding officer of 79IB, welcomed the establishment of the national ID system as it would help law enforcement agencies easily track down criminals, including terrorists, and prevent them from obtaining false identities to carry out illegal activities.

“This will also enable our government to have a more efficient system to implement social assistance programs and deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations,” he added. (PNA)