The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Birth Registration Assistance Project (PBRAP) has started this week going to the barangays to look for unregistered residents of Iloilo City.
The City Government and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Iloilo signed October 11 a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to kickstart the undertaking spearheaded by the City Civil Registry Office.
The MOA was signed by Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, Acting Local Civil Registrar Cherrie Jover Ampig, PSA Iloilo Provincial Director Nelida Amolar, and OIC Provincial Statistics Officer Jerry Dolutan. The signing was witnessed by Registration Officers IV Jose Pisuena, Jr. and Christine Pecaoco, Registration Officer III Analiza Abapo, and Registration Officer II Marivel Gargalicana.
“In support of the efforts of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Iloilo City Government supports the program ‘PhillD Registration Assistance Project’ to increase civil registration in marginalized communities, particularly those belonging to the Indigenous Peoples (IP) and the poorest sector,” said Treñas.
“We will collaborate with the agency for the conduct of Mobile Registration along the metro to provide services to our constituents,” he added.
The city’s PBRAP targets a total of 40,000 birth registration for indigents and IPs.
The target recipients will receive copies of their registered birth certificates on Security Paper (SECPA) free of charge from PSA.
The project aims to strengthen the campaign for fast, accessible, and improved civil registration as this will reduce the number of requirements needed to make it easier for the beneficiaries to process their birth records.
It will also provide assistance in the processing of delayed registration of births of the clients; out-of-town registration of births and civil registry documents; and the verification of the existence of civil registry records from the PSA Civil Registry System database; and consultancy on processing civil registry records of married individuals and legitimation.
“The City Government of Iloilo is very much willing to help in any programs and activities conducted by the PSA, especially those that give benefits or may have a great impact on the lives of the people,” Amolar said.
“With this project, we will verify if they have record or none. The verification will take place in the Philippine Statistics Authority, and with the MOA, the verification process will be free,” she added.
Amolar said the birth certificate serves as supporting document to obtain PhilSys National ID. She also emphasized the importance of having a birth certificate as it indicates the person’s name and date of birth; authentication of identity and nationality; allows elders to obtain their Senior Citizen’s ID; and to avail of the benefits and privileges the Local Government Unit will provide. (Angelo Miranda/Iloilo City PIO)
