2020 CPH done, PhilSys rolled out

BAGUIO CITY – (3 February 2021) – The support of city officials led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH) did not go unnoticed as Benguet Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) head Imelda Buyuccan handed out certificates of appreciation during the city hall flag raising ceremonies last Monday.

According to Buyuccan, the mayor as head of the city census coordination board, Chief of Staff Engr. Philip Puzon, Health Services Officer Rowena Galpo, City Civil Registrar Bernardina Tabin, the Sangguniang Panlungsod and Councilor Vladimir Cayabas, and other city officials provided unwavering support to the CPH.

In coordination with the Health Services Office (HSO), the city provided and administered swab tests which boosted the confidence of 677 hired census personnel to proceed with house-to-house enumeration duties, even to some barangays on lockdown.

For his part, Councilor Cayabas authored Res. 484, series of 2020 on Sept. 14, 2020 which “encouraged residents to support the CPH and provide true information to ensure the credibility of the census results.” He also voluntarily conducted lectures on Leadership Excellence for Affirmative Development to 718 enumerators, 177 supervisors and 12 PSA personnel in 46 classes in different venues beyond office hours “to give motivation and inspiration, for census personnel to have a positive outlook during these trying times,” Buyuccan noted.

In the same occasion, she enjoined public cooperation for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), with the tagline: “ID natin ito.”

This is anchored from Republic Act 11055 signed into law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in August 2018, also known as the Philippine Identification System Act which aims to establish a single national identification for all citizens and resident aliens.

This would be a valid proof of identify, a means to “simplify public and private transactions and be a social and economic platform that promotes seamless social service deliver and strengthen financial inclusion for both public and private services. As a foundation digital ID system, the PhilSys will transform how services are delivered and accessed in the country; presence-less, paperless and cashless transactions,” Buyuccan said.

This also accelerate transition to a digital economy, emphasize coverage and enable access to vulnerable groups, the indigents, people in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) and Persons With Disabilities (PWD), built on a privacy by design principle.

Latest technology and innovations in the implementation of the project underscoring the importance of privacy of individuals and security of information under the system.

Residents of Irisan, Bakakeng central, Pinget, Loakan proper, Sto. Rosario valley barangays are being enumerated up to end of March this year, Buyuccan further said. Other barangays follow suit while those registered from the five barangays are called for personal appearance in PhilSys registration centers for biometric info, front face, iris scan and ten fingerprinting.

Pre-registration is required where basic demographic information is gathered: name, gender, date and place of birth, blood type, nationality, address; while the mobile number, e-mail address and marital status are considered optional information. – Julie G. Fianza with reports from PSA Benguet