As the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) continues its implementation of the National ID, its efforts towards inclusivity are beginning to benefit Indigenous Peoples (IPs) across the country. 

Rosemarie Raquedan, an IP from Maddela, Quirino, shows her National ID.  

Rosemarie Raquedan, an IP from Maddela in Quirino, previously registered and received her National ID.

“Bilang isang Agta, mabilis na ang aking mga transaksyon tuwing may programa o benepisyo na galing sa gobyerno dahil may National ID na ako,” she said. “Ito na rin ang patunay ng aking pagkakakilanlan.”

Likewise, IPs residing in Paracale, Camarines Norte who registered have received their National IDs. Among them is Riza Joy Estrella, who presented the National ID as her valid ID to apply for social protection program benefits. 

Riza Joy Estrella, an IP in Paracale, Camarines Norte, was able to apply for social protection program benefits through her National ID.

“Nagamit ko na [ang national ID] sa pag-apply sa bagong programa ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps),” she said. “Mairerekomenda ko po ito sa ibang katutubo kasi maganda rin po [na may valid ID] na tanggap sa lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno."

PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa, PhD, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, said that the efforts towards inclusive implementation of the National ID is coming to fruition as registered IPs become empowered with a valid and secure ID.

“The PSA has always pushed for coverage of IPs in the National ID and we are now seeing the impact of an inclusive identification system,” said PSA Usec. Mapa. “Rest assured that we will continue to exhaust all efforts to register more members of indigenous peoples and indigenous cultural communities to the National ID and help improve their access to various services, including social protection programs.”

A registration personnel from PSO Quirino facilitates National ID registration of Agta residents in Barangay San Dionisio I in Maddela, Quirino.

In the same area in Maddela, Provincial Statistical Office (PSO) Quirino brought mobile registration services to register more IPs to the National ID. Personnel from PSO Quirino trekked and crossed a river to reach the area located at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountain.

Through the one-day activity, 16 IPs, including children, were among the registered.

Similar efforts are also being conducted for Filipinos in other Geographically-Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).

In Rizal, IPs residing in Sitio Kinabuan, Barangay Sta. Ines in Tanay were able to register to the National ID through a two-day mobile registration activity in the area conducted by PSO Rizal.

PSO Rizal brings National ID registration services to IPs residing in Sitio Kinabuan, Barangay Sta. Ines in Tanay.

As of 22 March 2024, a total of 85,461,113 Filipinos have successfully registered to the National ID. 

Quick Links:

• Website: https://philsys.gov.ph
• Facebook page: https://facebook.com/PSAPhilSysOfficial 
• PhilID/ePhilID authentication: https://verify.philsys.gov.ph

-    PhilSys Registry Office