03 February 2025 – KALIBO, AKLAN – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Aklan Provincial Office is embarking for an improved and more inclusive civil registration system in the province as it celebrates this year’s Civil Registration Month with the theme 
“Building a Resilient, Agile, and Future-Fit Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System.”

A series of activities has been slated by the provincial office, in collaboration with various local civil registry offices in Aklan to enhance the awareness and knowledge of the public regarding civil registration matters.

The celebration kicked off on February 3 with a motorcade from PSA-Aklan office to City Mall Kalibo, participated in by members of the civil registrar’s association, representatives from government agencies, PSA employees, and other stakeholders.

An opening program followed at City Mall Kalibo, spearheaded by PSA-Aklan, marking the start of the month-long celebration.

In her welcome remarks, Engr. Antonet Catubuan, Chief Statistical Specialist of PSA-Aklan emphasized the importance of civil registration for our society and economic development.

“It is essential that everyone should be registered as it is the fundamental rights of an individual and the basis of our government to provide social services necessary for the enhancement of our well-being.

Meanwhile, Mr. Leopoldo Sanchez MCR of LGU-Numancia and Vice-President of Aklan Civil Registrars Association delivered a message highlighting the relevance of civil registration in our lives and the initiatives of civil registry offices to efficiently and effectively implement their mandate.

He cited that resilience and agility are very relevant in their work to serve their client with efficiency and effectiveness, stressing that their commitment to their work is driven by passion rather than compensation.

To inform the public about the current state of civil registration in Aklan, Ms. Glenda Sampaton, Registration Officer II and Outlet Supervisor-Designate of Serbilis Center-Kalibo, presented key findings on vital statistics, covering birth, marriage, and death records, as well as the process of how the civil registration system functions.

This was followed by the awarding of birth certificates printed on Security Paper to 24 individuals in Kalibo who benefited from the Birth Registration Assistance Project (BRAP).

The BRAP is an initiative of PSA in partnership with local government units (LGUs) to provide free registration for individuals whose births have not yet been recorded at their respective civil registry offices.

According to Engr. Catubuan, this is just the beginning of a series of activities scheduled for this month, all aimed at emphasizing the importance of civil registration and making these services more accessible to the public.

Among the activities included for this celebration in Aklan are follows:

• Mobile registration programs in selected barangays which will allow individuals who are not yet registered in the birth registry to avail of free registration in the area;
• Mass weddings, offering unwed couples the opportunity to legalize their marriage free of charge;
• Civil registration clinics in selected barangay, where individuals with issues in their civil registry documents can consult with civil registry staff on the process of corrections right at their doorstep;
• Information dissemination activities in selected barangays and identified media platforms to educate the public on the registration process, rules, procedures, and fees for delayed registration and correction of erroneous entries;
• Hanging of streamers and civil registration banners to further raise awareness of the celebration;
• A civil registration quiz for PSA and LCRO to assess their knowledge of civil registration matters;
• Retooling sessions for PSA and LGU staff on the latest civil registration issuances, procedures, and guidelines to ensure uniformity in the implementation of civil registration services;
• Gift–giving at Missionaries of Charity, Polo, New Washington and Ati Village in Boracay Island, Malay; and
• Clean–up drive at Camanci Norte, Numancia to enhance community engagement in promoting the importance of civil registration.

“These activities are integral to the development and enhancement of civil registration in our locality to ensure that the system remains adaptive and effective,” Engr. Catubuan said.

The Civil Registration Month is celebrated every February pursuant to Proclamation No. 682, signed by former President Corazon Aquino on January 28, 1991.

ENGR. ANTONET B. CATUBUAN

Chief Statistical Specialist