Landing a job requires more than just a resume and a confident smile. Valid government IDs are often a non-negotiable prerequisite for employment. Recognizing this, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) set up a National ID System booth at the 124th Labor Day Job Fair held at the SM City Pampanga Event Center on May 1, 2026, ensuring jobseekers could secure their primary identification on the spot.
The initiative was part of a broader one-stop-shop organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office III, which brought together agencies like the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) under one roof . By integrating ID processing with job applications, the PSA helped streamline the pre-employment requirements for thousands of attendees, allowing those hired on the spot to transition smoothly into their new roles without bureaucratic delays.
Walk-in Registration and On-the-spot ePhilID Issuance
The PSA team, composed of registration kit operators and assistants, offered a comprehensive suite of services to the public . Jobseekers who had not yet registered for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) could complete Step 2 registration on-site, which involves the capture of biometric information, including fingerprints, iris scan, and front-facing photograph.
For those who had already registered previously but were still waiting for their physical National ID card, the PSA provided a crucial workaround: the issuance of the ePhilID. This is the printed paper format of the National ID, which the government has declared as a valid and sufficient proof of identity and age . Registrants who had a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) could request the printing of their ePhilID immediately, giving them a government-recognized ID before leaving the job fair.
Digital ID Access and Streamlined Government Services
In line with the government's push for digital transformation, the PSA team also assisted attendees in generating and accessing their Digital National ID through the eGovPH application . This digital version serves as an additional, convenient format of the PhilID that can be accessed anytime via smartphone, further reducing the friction often experienced by new employees gathering requirements.
The convergence of services at SM City Pampanga extended beyond the PSA. The event served as a true one-stop-shop where applicants could also process their requirements with the NBI, SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund, alongside the job interviews and assessments . This "whole-of-government" approach proved efficient, with DOLE reporting that 21 applicants were hired on the spot from over 4,000 vacancies offered by 40 participating employers, while thousands more were tagged as qualified for final evaluation.
