Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) has called on all household beneficiaries to register their children aged 0-5 with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys). Gema Gabuya, manager and director of the 4Ps national program, emphasized that PhilSys registration and authentication will serve as the equivalent of the beneficiaries’ compliance with the monthly Family Development Session (FDS) for February and March.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gabuya explained that this initiative aims to increase the number of young children who will benefit from having a PhilSys-issued national identification (ID) card. “This initiative highlights the importance of securing identification for all 4Ps household members, particularly for 0-5-year-old children, as a proactive measure to improve their access to essential government programs in the future,” Gabuya stated in a news release on Sunday.
To meet the one-month FDS compliance requirement, the head of the 4Ps household should register with PhilSys. For a two-month FDS compliance, all household members, including children aged 0-5, must be registered. “Households that availed the FDS equivalency must present either their transaction reference number or PhilSys card number and authenticate their registration during the period covering February to March of the compliance monitoring timeline,” Gabuya added. This process ensures that household members fulfill program requirements necessary for cash grants while also reducing barriers to identification at an early age.
Gabuya noted that the inclusion of young children in PhilSys registration aligns with the directive of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian to maximize the reach of the National ID system among 4Ps households, as part of the streamlining of government services. The DSWD implemented the FDS equivalency for the registration and authentication of 4Ps households with PhilSys from October to November 2024.
4Ps beneficiaries can register for PhilSys at designated registration centers, including barangay halls, malls, FDS co-location venues, and special sites organized by the Philippine Statistics Authority. New registration centers will also be opened in schools and daycare centers to accelerate the registration of children within 4Ps households.
The Philippine Identification System Act, signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2018, aims to establish a single national ID for Filipinos and resident aliens. The national ID serves as a valid proof of identity and simplifies public and private transactions, such as school enrollment and opening bank accounts. It is also expected to enhance efficiency in dealing with government services by requiring only one ID during transactions.
