On 31 March 2023 the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) National Statistician and Civil Registrar General (NSCRG) Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa, and Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) VIII Regional Director Wilma A. Perante visited the Province of Northern Samar, in order to distribute the Civil Registry Documents in Security Paper (SECPA) to the beneficiaries of the PhilSys Birth Registration Assistance Project (PBRAP) and also pay courtesy calls to the Local Executives of San Isidro & Victoria and discussed the objectives of the on-going PBRAP and how it benefits the marginalized sector in the communities as it follows the principal objectives of the CRVS Decade of Inclusive & People-centered Civil Registration by “Getting every Pinoy and Pinay in the Picture”.

      Recipients of PBRAP are those marginalized communities (remote/GIDA areas), Indigenous People, Muslim Filipinos, poorest sector in the country, and persons currently living outside their place of birth. 

     NSCRG Mapa and RD Perante’s convoy party were welcomed and escorted by the San Isidro PNP along Samar and Northern Samar boundary in Brgy. Caglanipao and afterwards headed to the office of the Municipal Mayor Honorable Ferdinand Avila. After which, the party proceeded to the venue in the Municipality of San Isidro where the PBRAP beneficiaries are eagerly waiting. They were then greeted at the venue by a band exhibition performed by the students of San Isidro National High School and Alegria National High School.

     Present during the distribution of Birth Certificates in Security Papers (SECPA) is the Hon. Mayor Ferdinand Avila, the Barangay Local Chief Executives and the heads of Offices of San Isidro LGU, along with the officers of Civil Registry Personnel Association of Northern Samar (CRePANS) as well as the CRePANS President Mr. Eulalio Sola who is at the same time the Municipal Civil Registrar of San Isidro.

     During the event, 15 PBRAP beneficiaries received their Birth Certificates in Security Papers (SECPA) in the Municipality of San Isidro, with the oldest recipient aged sixty-two (62) year old and the youngest is one (1) year old.

     After the distribution of SECPA in the Municipality of San Isidro, the party proceeded to the Municipality of Victoria and visited the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Ms. Sheila P. Collamar – the 2022 National Awardee of the PSA, after the courtesy call with Honorable Mayor Jose G. Ardales and the distribution of the SECPA to the PBRAP beneficiaries in Victoria.

     Present during the distribution of the SECPA’s is the School Head of the Stand Alone Senior High School of Victoria Mr. Bryan Jan Balleta, Principal II of Victoria National High School Dr. Lilia S. Magistrado and the Local Chief Executive Private Secretary Mr. Cesario Q. Centino.

     A total of 21 PBRAP beneficiaries received their Birth Certificates in Security Papers (SECPA) in the Municipality of Victoria. 

     PBRAP Beneficiaries of the said Municipalities, extended their heartfelt gratitude to the PSA as well as to the Local Civil Registrars, as they said that they now are able toacquire their Birth Certificates that they have been longing for some time. Beneficiaries said that they had a hard time getting their Birth registered due to discrepancies in their papers and high cost of transportation and other fees. Because of the latest program of the PSA, they are able to have their birth’s easily registered and had it on security paper already. 

     The awarding of Birth Certificates in SECPA to the PBRAP Beneficiaries is the PSA’s commitment to the 2015-2024 Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Decade that aims to strengthen the documentation of Step 2 registration of Republic Act No. 11055 otherwise known as the “Philippine Identification System Act” by increasing the use of the birth certificate as the basic document to be presented by citizens seeking to register with PhilSys. 

     The PBRAP project in Northern Samar will continue its registration targeting the 10,535 Nortehanons or more across the province.  

SGD. JULIAN E. GALLANO
Registration Officer II 
Chief Statistical Specialist