The Philippine Statistics Authority - Iloilo Provincial Statistics Authority (IPSO), in collaboration with the Association of Civil Registrars of Iloilo (ACRI) Inc., led the 35th Civil Registration Month opening ceremony on February 3, 2025. The event was held at the San Enrique Covered Gym in San Enrique, Iloilo, under the theme, "Building a Resilient, Agile, and Future-fit Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System."

The celebration commenced with simultaneous motorcades from five different locations across the province—Carles, Maasin, Iloilo City, Leon, and Guimbal—all converging at the San Enrique Covered Gym for the main program. A total of 330 delegates from various cities and municipalities attended, including City/Municipal Civil Registrars (C/MCRs), Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) and Local Government Unit (LGU) personnel, IPSO staff, and distinguished guests.

PSA Iloilo OIC Jerry L. Dolutan warmly welcomed all attendees, emphasizing the crucial role of LCROs in every LGU in ensuring accessible and efficient civil registration services. He highlighted the importance of timely registration of vital events and commended the dedication of C/MCRs for their unwavering support and active participation in civil registration initiatives. He also extended his heartfelt gratitude to LGU San Enrique for hosting this year’s opening ceremony.

Hon. Rosario Mediatrix P. Fernandez, Mayor of San Enrique, delivered an inspirational message to the participants, expressing her deep appreciation for their dedicated public service. She acknowledged the vital role they play, often working quietly behind the scenes yet making a significant impact in ensuring every citizen’s civil records are properly documented.

A key highlight of the event was the awarding of birth certificates on security paper to twelve beneficiaries of the Birth Registration Assistance Project (BRAP) from San Enrique. Additionally, the top three Best Performing Local Civil Registry Offices (LCROs) were recognized for their outstanding contributions in the 2024 BRAP implementation. The Municipality of San Joaquin secured third place, Carles ranked second, and Calinog claimed the top spot.

The LCRO personnel actively participated in various activities throughout the ceremony, fostering a deeper appreciation for civil registration and vital statistics while also promoting camaraderie and creativity among attendees. These activities included competitions that showcased the talents and skills of the participants. In the Chess Tournament, the representative from LGU Iloilo City emerged as the champion, demonstrating strategic thinking and skill. Meanwhile, out of 17 impressive entries in the Infographics Contest, LGU Guimbal claimed the top prize for its outstanding visual representation of key civil registration and vital statistics data. The On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest highlighted the artistic abilities of the participants, with LGU Mina securing victory through its compelling and visually striking artwork. Lastly, the CRM Jingle Dance Contest brought energy and enthusiasm to the event, with LGU Concepcion taking home the top award for their vibrant and well-coordinated performance.

The event concluded with a message of appreciation from Guimbal MCR and ACRI Vice President, Percylette Quidato, who expressed her sincere thanks for everyone's unwavering support in ensuring the smooth and successful conduct of the opening ceremony. She also encouraged attendees to remain actively engaged in all future activities of ACRI and PSA, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in advancing their shared mission of building a resilient, agile, and future-fit civil registration and vital statistics system.

The 35th Civil Registration Month opening ceremony was a resounding success, bringing together dedicated civil registration professionals and stakeholders, united in their commitment to improving civil registration services for the benefit of all.

Originally Signed
JERRY L. DOLUTAN
(Supervising Statistical Specialist)    
Officer-in-Charge
PSA RSSO VI – Iloilo

HJD