Gov’t agencies ‘doing best’ to release Philsys IDs: PSA

By Liza Agoot 

BAGUIO CITY — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (PSA-CAR) on Wednesday called on the public to be patient amid delays in the release of the Philippine Identification (PhilID) cards or the national ID.
    In an interview, PSA-CAR regional director Villafe Alibuyog said “pasensiya na po, hintayin lang po natin, ginagawa po ng agencies involved and kanilang makakaya para makarating na sa atin ang ating mga PhilSys ID (Philippine Identification System) (We apologize for the delay. The agencies involved are doing their best to release our Philsys IDs).”
    Alibuyog said the PhilSys program of the government is not only implemented by one agency. 
    “Gathering of data and registration is handled by our agency, printing is with another agency and the distribution and delivery is by the Philippine Postal Corporation,” she said. 
    Alibuyog said PhilSys is a five-year program but was shortened to three years with the President’s order to have the copies of the IDs released immediately. 
    “Pati po kami na taga PSA wala pa rin pong ID, hintayin lang po natin (even us employees of the PSA do not yet have our IDs, let us just wait for it),” she added.
    The PSA is currently releasing the digital version of the PhilID. 
    “Pwede po tayong pumunta sa (We can go to) PSA offices, we can issue to them an e-copy of the ID, which they avail and be printed at the local offices of the PSA,” Alibuyog said. -- PNA