The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region 11 is eyeing to open up more registration centers for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) to meet its target for 2021.

Speaking at a virtual press briefing recently, information statistical analyst Argel Ryan Jayo said PSA-11 is waiting for the go-signal of local government units that will allow the setting up of more registration centers.

The PhilSys registration here is being done in malls, upon the request of the city government, to avoid mass gatherings.

Only 200 registrants for the Philippine Identification (PhilID) card or national ID are accommodated daily.

“We will just have to wait. Maybe we can add more registration centers,” Jayo said.

Jayo said PSA-11 has so far achieved 70.38 percent of its target registration of 3.6 million.

Other areas in the region have sign-up sites in villages but none in Davao City since registration started October 11 after a five-month suspension due to quarantine restrictions.

Randolph Gales, PSA statistics officer for Davao City and Davao del Sur, earlier said the city government halted village registration to better impose health protocols against Covid-19.

“We are all mall-based now because the crowd can be controlled and the number of registrants is limited,” Gales said.

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 shall 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 also seeks to boost efficiency, especially in dealing with government services where people will only need to present one ID during transactions. (PNA)