The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Tuesday said it is ramping up its campaign to encourage beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to register for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).

DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said that this initiative came as a result of the strong collaboration between the 4Ps National Program Management Office (NPMO) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“It would benefit both the DSWD and its clients (like 4Ps beneficiaries) as the features of the ID enable faster eligibility checks and digital payments, hence, providing better and multiple access points for beneficiaries to receive social assistance,” Lopez, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said.

As of 31 January this year, data indicate that out of 24.4-million target 4Ps individual members, only 1-million 4Ps members have PhilSys Card Number (PCN).

“The DSWD aims to significantly increase this number to ensure a smoother and more inclusive social assistance delivery system,” Lopez pointed out.

Under Section 3 of Republic Act No. 11055 or the PhilSys Act, the program envisions a future where Filipinos can utilize a single secure ID for government and private transactions, eliminating the need for multiple identification documents.

According to Lopez, a memorandum was also issued by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian in January 2024 highlighting the registration of 4Ps household members and their children aged five and above.

“Notably, efforts are underway to extend registration to include children under five years old, pending approval of guidelines,” the DSWD spokesperson said.

Existing grantees and household members, who have registered with PSA before 1 February 2024, can avail themselves of the Family Development Sessions (FDS) equivalency.

They must, however, undergo identity verification through a biometric authentication process using the PhilSys Authentication Application. This verification involves providing the PhilSys Card Number and undergoing a fingerprint scan.

With the ongoing efforts to encourage registration and the positive response from 4Ps household beneficiaries, the DSWD is poised to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in its mission to provide sustainable support for its beneficiaries.

Lopez said it is a strategic move towards enhancing service delivery.