The Philippine Statistics Authority here has successfully registered over 16,000 individuals through the Philippine Identification System Birth Registration Assistance Project as of September this year.
PSA Chief Ariel Fortuito said they are set to register over 64,000 individuals in the Province under the Birth Registration Assistance Project.
This project aims to increase the level of birth registration, especially in marginalized communities such as those belonging to the Indigenous Peoples, Muslim community, and the poorest sector in the Province.
“As part of this initiative, local civil registrars, in collaboration with barangay officials, have successfully contacted and coordinated with unregistered residents to facilitate their registration,” said Fortuito.
BRAP has made progress in its mission to register unregistered individuals identified during the recent census of the population, the PSA chief statistical specialist said.
The program continues to reach out to its target unregistered individuals through the ongoing efforts led by local civil registrars and PSA.
Fortuito said the registration process has been made more accessible and free of charge, as the program has waived the payment for negative certifications previously required by the PSA.
This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on registrants, allowing them to obtain the necessary documents for late registration without any fees.
The BRAP has identified key areas with high numbers of unregistered individuals, including Sta. Catalina and Bayawan City, and is actively working to address these gaps.
“Many residents have faced challenges in registering due to distance from local civil registrars or financial constraints,” said Fortuito.
This offers a solution by enabling mobile registration services, ensuring that even those born outside the area can register conveniently.
The PSA officials said the registration serves as a legal proof of Filipino citizenship and is essential for various purposes, including enrollment in schools, employment opportunities, and access to social benefits.
In response to the concerns regarding the integrity of the registration process, the PSA has implemented stricter policies to mitigate fraudulent registrations.
Personal appearance of registrants is now mandatory, and the use of national IDs will be required to verify identities through fingerprint and ID scans.
BRAP program, initiated in 2021, continues to evolve and adapt to the needs of the community, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to be registered and recognized as a citizen.
The project was launched under Republic Act 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013 to assist marginalized individuals in securing their birth registration and registry in the PhilSys.
This provides individuals with an official certificate of live birth, ensuring their inclusion in the civil registration system. (JCT/PIA7 NegOr, with reports from Jonah Grace Nicolas, NORSU intern)
