MANILA (UPDATE) — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said it revised its rules on late registration of births and required late registrants to simultaneously apply for a national identification card.

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National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa told the Senate Finance Committee that this was meant to compel the personal appearance of late registrants to minimize fraudulent registrations.

"Iyung late registration per se kasi as you mentioned talagang millions ang nagpapa-late register so hindi siya unusual. Kasi pag 30 days upon your birth ay di mo narehistro, late na kaagad yun at marami tayong mga Pilipino sa ngayon, based on 2020 census, 3.7 million ang wala pang birth certificate," Mapa said.

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"May isa kaming nilagay noong July, naglabas ang PSA ng memo para doon sa late registration na dagdag kailangan bago ka magpa-late registration ay dapat na-register ka sa national ID. Ang purpose noon ay para magpakita ka sa national ID kailangan kukunan ka ng biometrics," he added.

Mapa explained that applicants for a national ID are required to present other documentary evidence when they register.

"Sa National ID naman kasi birth registration and other documents, pero what is important is that there is an interview process," Mapa said.

NATIONAL ID ISSUE

Earlier in the hearing, Poe also asked Mapa about the cancelled contract of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the printing of National ID cards.

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Mapa told the panel that 55.5 million physical cards were issued out of the 90 million registrations, leaving a balance of 35 million cards. Out of the 90 million, 86 million are unique, which means 4 million are still being validated. 

The PSA has delivered 53.5 million physical cards out of the 55 million issued. Mapa said they were surprised that the BSP subcontracted the printing to All Card. The BSP has since cancelled that contract.

"Nakalagay po sa aming MOA that di po pwede yung subcontracting. Yun po yung note ng aming COA," he said.

Poe expressed concern at this discovery.

"This is actually a grave concern because if they blatantly violated a memorandum of agreement, that's something that can cancel out the entire agreement. BSP might be liable for something here," Poe said.

The transaction happened in 2020 under then Governor Benjamin Diokno. Poe asked the Commission on Audit to submit their findings to her office.

In a statement released on Thursday, Sept. 12, the PSA said it echoes the BSP’s official statement that it has fully complied with Agency-to-Agency Procurement Guidelines under Republic Act No. 9184 regarding the printing of the National IDs.  

"As the primary stakeholders in the ongoing implementation of our National ID system, we affirm our alignment with the BSP’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and compliance with our procurement laws," the PSA said. 

The BSP also released a statement reiterating "that it has fully complied with the Agency-to-Agency Procurement Guidelines (Negotiated Procurement under Section 53.5 of the Implementing Rules of Republic Act No. 9184) and its agreement with the PSA for the printing of National IDs." 

"The BSP did not subcontract its obligations to AllCard, Inc. (ACI). BSP and PSA personnel managed the operations, while ACI provided equipment, raw materials, and technical support under a lease and supply contract. The Commission on Audit (COA) team assigned to BSP flagged no issues related to subcontracting in its review of BSP’s transactions," the central bank said.

The BSP also said that the ongoing issue with ACI, concerning its failure to meet contractual obligations is now under arbitration. 

"Considering the ongoing arbitration, the BSP will refrain from making further public statements on specific matters pertaining to the proceedings," it added.

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