LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Statistical Services Office 1 (PSA-RSSO1) is continuing their assistance in the issuance of free certificate of live birth to unregistered marginalized individuals through the PhilSys Birth Registration Assistance Project (PBRAP).

Ian Bautista, Information Officer of PSA-RSSO1, said that this year, they are targeting some 2,395 residents to register their birth records through the PBRAP.

This program, which was launched on February 2022, aims to register the birth records and issue free birth certificates to members of marginalized communities, Indigenous People, Muslim Filipinos, the poorest sector of the country, persons currently living outside their birth place, and senior citizens.

“Itong PBRAP ay libre. Usually kasi kapag delayed registration, may bayad na ito pero sa PBRAP, waved ang mga fees. Kailiangan lang gawin ng mga qualified beneficiaries na makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang civil registry officers, usually nasa mga municipal o city halls ito para maka-avail sa PBRAP,” Bautista explained.

The PSA officer added that in the province of Ilocos Norte, a total of 19 birth certificates were successfully issued through this program.

In Ilocos Norte, the PBRAP started its implementation in the towns of Pagudpud, Bangui, and Carasi.

This continuous project of the PSA is in line with the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade for 2015-2024 which advocates for the compulsory recording of births, deaths, marriages, and other acts and event concerning the civil status of an individual.

According to Bautista, PSA-RSSO1 is targeting at least 99.5% of birth certificate registration for the Ilocos Region. (JCR/MJTAB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)