The Philippine Statistics Authority - IloiloProvincial Statistics Authority (IPSO), in partnership with the Association of Civil Registrars of Iloilo (ACRI) Inc., led the opening ceremony of the 34th Civil Registration Month held at the Tamasak Arena Gym, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo on February 2, 2023. The celebration was in line with this year’s theme, “CRVS: The Future of Seamless Services”.

The event commenced with simultaneous motorcades from six different locations across the province, converging at the Tamasak Arena Gym for the program proper. The lead vehicle of each group had a PA system that played the CRVS jingle. The first route started in the Municipality of Carles and was joined by the municipalities of Estancia, Balasan, Batad, Sara, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Lemery, Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Banate, and Anilao. The second group took off in the City of Passi and was joined by the municipalities of San Enrique, Dueñas, Dingle, Pototan, Mina, and New Lucena. The third route started in Calinog and was accompanied by Bingawan, Lambunao, Janiuay, Badiangan, Cabatuan, and Maasin. The municipalities of San Miguel and Alimodian joined in the Municipality of Leon which was the starting point of the fourth group. The fifth route started in San Joaquin, together with all the municipalities in the first district, namely: Miag-ao, Guimbal, Igbaras, Tubungan, Tigbauan, and Oton. The last group which was joined by Iloilo City, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Zarraga, and Dumangas kicked off in the Municipality of Leganes.
 

A total of 250 delegates from all the cities and municipalities in Iloilo attended, including the City/Municipal Civil Registrars (C/MCRs), LCRO and LGU personnel, PSA RSSO VI and IPSO personnel, and guests. ACRI President Atty. Reynold A. Perez welcomed the participants, and emphasized in his message the importance of timely registration of vital events. PSA RSSO VI OIC-RD Nelida C. Amolar delivered an enthusiastic message, and highlighted PSA’s commitment to seamless civil registration and vital statistics services. She also thanked the C/MCRs and their staff for their continuous support to PSA’s activities, especially in their untiring efforts in numerous mobile registrations held in their respective cities/municipalities, bringing the services closer to their constituents. Hon. Vice Mayor Hernan G. Biron Jr. of the Municipality of Barotac Nuevo as the guest of honor delivered his message through Atty. Reynold Perez, the Municipal Administrator. In his speech, he expressed gratitude to PSA for programs that assisted them in making decisions and policies that benefited their municipality. He also thanked the organizers for selecting their municipality as the site of this important occasion.

Fourteen teams with three members each took part in the On-the-spot Poster Making Contest wherein three teams were hailed as winners and were given certificates and cash prizes. The program also featured performances from the top 6 participants of the CRM Jingle Dance Contests as well as the awarding of winners for the Infographics-Making Contest. In addition, LCRO/CCROs were also presented with plaques for the following recognitions: Most Innovative LCRO in Civil Registration, 2022 Top 15 Best Performing LCRO in the Province, and Best Performing Municipality in the Implementation of the PhilSys Birth Registration Assistance Project (PBRAP).

In her closing remarks, OIC-PSO Ma. Goretti M. Novilla expressed her gratitude to the participants, particularly the C/MCRs and their personnel for their dynamic support in the PSA activities, most especially in strengthening civil registration in the province. She also thanked the IPSO staff for the smooth conduct of the opening ceremony.