CALUYA, Antique—The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – Antique Provincial Statistical Office in partnership with the Barangay Local Government of Semirara, Caluya conducted an information drive about Civil Registration, Birth Registration Assistance Project (BRAP), and Philippine Identification System (PhilSys). 

The activity was held from November 4 to 6, 2024, at Tinogboc National High School, Semirara National High School, and Divine Word School of Semirara Island Inc.

To make this activity possible, the PSA team travelled from San Jose, Antique to Semirara Island to directly engage with the school community. 

PSA personnel together with the students and faculty and staff of Semirara National High School on 06 November

Provincial Statistics Officer of Antique, Dr. Randy M. Tacogdoy, led the discussions and shared essential information on the importance of birth registration for securing legal rights and accessing government services. 

He gave emphasis on the importance of timely registering vital events such as birth, which should be registered within 30 days after its occurrence, and other important civil registration rules. The procedures and requirements for late registration of vital events, for correction of clerical and typographical errors, for change of first name and other vital information were discussed. The permanent validity of civil registration documents was also discussed.

He also explained how BRAP assists individuals in lately registering their births for free with free issuance of PSA copy of certificate of live birth, especially in remote areas, and highlighted the advantages of the PhilSys as a unified, secure identification system that simplifies access to various services and the different formats of the National ID.  Latest provincial results on poverty, labor, price and other statistics were also presented.

During the open forum, the speaker shed light on questions and queries on civil registration, legitimation, administrative adoption, simulated birth rectification, use of surname, and related matters.  The students were encouraged to secure a PSA copy of their birth certificates before their graduation from high school to ensure that they are free of errors and that they could correct any error that they may find to straighten all of their academic records before going to college to avoid inconveniences and other problems due to errors in their birth certificates. The audience also enjoyed the entertainment from PSA Antique Musical Group. 

The activity aimed to reach out to the school and students in Semirara Island for them to benefit from basic information and direct consultative assistance that will surely help them as they exercise their rights and access their privileges being upheld and protected by different civil registration-related laws and civil registry documents.