The Philippine Statistics Authority in Negros Oriental began piloting its Civil Registration Services (CRS) application system on Tuesday for the authentication of national identification cards. Ariel Fortuito, PSA-Negros Oriental chief, said the CRS app will determine whether the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) cards that have been distributed to the registrants are valid and authentic. ‘Since the national ID cards no longer bear the signature of its owner, the CRS app can authenticate its information and other data stored in it, such as iris scans and biometrics,’ Fortuito told the Philippine News Agency. He said the effort is part of the PSA’s security measures for the national ID cards although Fortuito said it is difficult to falsify official identification. Both the physical card being distributed through the Philippine Postal Corporation or the ePhilID card can be authenticated by this program, the PSA official said. The official rollout of the CRS app in Negros Oriental is set next month. As of late Tuesday, the PSA managed to test some 25 clients’ national ID cards. Government agencies such as the Social Security Service, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Government Service Insurance System may already use this for validation purposes. Private institutions such as banks may also avail of the service, Fortuito said. In the near future, kiosks may also be put up for the authentication of the national ID cards such as through the use of QR (quick response) codes, he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency