NAT'L ID. A resident of Eastern Samar province enlists in the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) in this undated photo. The Philippine Statistics Authority 8 (Eastern Visayas) is stepping up its PhilSys campaign as nearly 800,000 residents have yet to show up in registration centers (Photo courtesy of Philippine Statistics Authority) TACLOBAN CITY - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 8 (Eastern Visayas) is stepping up its campaign for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) as about 784,142 residents of the region have failed to show up in registration centers. The PSA has been coordinating with local government officials and conducting mobile registration to encourage the remaining unregistered residents to sign up for the identification (ID) system, PSA-8 Director Wilma Perante said in a phone interview on Wednesday. Of the 784,142 unregistered, 231,681 are in Leyte province, 172,765 in Northern Samar, 122,945 in Eastern Samar, 122,478 in Samar, 96,623 in Southern Leyte, and 37,650 in Biliran. "Since PhilSys is voluntary, we have been conducting caravans to increase (the) public's appreciation (of) the importance of valid identification," Perante said. Out of the region's more than four million residents who are five years old and above, about 3.24 million have completed the two-step registration process as of May 28. At least 621,685 printed ID cards have been delivered across the region. Signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2018, Republic Act 11055, or the PhilSys Act, aims to establish a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident aliens. The national ID shall be a valid proof of identity that shall be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrolment in schools, and the opening of bank accounts. It will also boost efficiency, especially in dealing with government services where people will only need to present the PhilID during transactions. (PNA) }