The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has partnered with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to ensure the inclusion of indigenous communities in the Philippine Identification system (PhilSys).

PSA and NCIP have entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) as part of the former’s efforts to make the PhilSys registration easily accessible to indigenous communities through mobile registration sites.

“Since its inception, PhilSys has aimed to establish a sustainable and inclusive identification system for all Filipinos, most especially for the vulnerable sectors of society,” said PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General.

“We extend our utmost appreciation to NCIP for their support to PhilSys and their commitment to uplifting indigenous communities nationwide,” he added.

On May 18, the PSA rolled out a mobile registration initiative in Porac, Pampanga to accommodate Aeta communities in barangays Camisa, Villa Maria, Inararo, Diaz, and Sapang Uwak.

These initiatives continued this year, including an additional registration activity conducted on March 19 in Floridablanca, Pampanga, where 254 members of the area’s Aeta community were registered.

In Occidental Mindoro, IP registration was just as consistent, with 10,972 members of indigenous communities such as Ratagnon, Hanunuo, Gubatnon, Tao Buid, and Iraya who were successfully registered to PhilSys this year.

Assistant Secretary Rosalinda P. Bautista, Deputy National Statistician of the PhilSys Registry Office (PRO), assured the public that the PSA will exert the same efforts as it continues to register the last mile of the population.

“Through this partnership with NCIP, we are confident that we will be able to register more members of indigenous communities and improve their access to financial, social welfare, security, health, education, and other government services,” she said.