The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) successfully gathered city and municipal civil registrars including officials and employees of the local government units, solemnizing officers, members of the academic community, statisticians, Consuls and Vice Consuls from Philippine Foreign Service Posts, mission representatives from Inter-Agency Committees, both at the national and sub-national levels, among others, to the 1st National Convention on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (1NCCRVS) held virtually from 01 to 03 September 2021.
Around 2,300 participants either virtually or on-site in the PSA Field Office clusters attended the virtual gathering via Zoom Webinar. The 3-day event which was simultaneously aired via Facebook live streaming has also reached more than 22,000 daily engagements from netizens.
PSA Undersecretary Dennis Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General (NSCRG), said that the 1NCCRVS primarily aims to serve as a venue to inform its participants about the recent developments in civil registration and the vital statistics generated in the country.
Congresswoman Ma. Lucille L. Nava of the Lone District of Guimaras and Chairperson of the House Committee on Population and Family Relations in her Keynote Message congratulated “each and every one for taking the herculean task of registration, data processing and also taking the responsibility as custodians of all vital events of each and every Filipino from birth to death and everything in between.”
In line with the 1NCCRVS theme: “Strengthening Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Digital Information: The Ways to Manage the New Normal,” Cong. Nava shared an overview of the pending bills in the Committee of Populations and Family Relations that, according to her, will enhance and ensure 100 percent access of civil registration services to all and possibly facilitate transactions most especially during the new normal. She added that all these legislations “aim to introduce comprehensive, responsive, and culturally sensitive Civil Registration and Vitals Events System or the CRVS” and include the Barangay Civil Registration System and free delayed registration of unregistered birth and of indigenous persons.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon of the National Economic and Development Authority emphasized that the “the way to manage the new normal is really to have a digital information and an electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (e-CRVS).” According to her, with digital information plus e-CRVS, service delivery shall become very effective and very timely.
Representing the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Officer-in-Charge of the Statistics Division, Rikke Munk Hansen, in her message said that the conduct of the 1NCCRVS “demonstrates the Philippine Statistics Authority’s unwavering commitment to its vision and mission of quality, efficiency, inclusiveness and equity always with the view to satisfying the customer - the people of the Philippines.”
The first day of the Convention showcased the Philippine CRVS Decade 2015-2024 Mid-Decade Assessments both at the national and sub-national levels in support of the country’s commitment.
It was followed by a paper presentation on inequality assessment on CRVS focused on stateless and other marginalized groups. Other emerging concerns such as registration and reporting of vital events of Filipinos abroad through the Philippine Foreign Service Posts and updates on Philippine National ID were also discussed.
There were eight sessions on various topics on the second day of the event. The major highlight of Day 2 was the participation of all attendees to the “Statement of Commitment to the CRVS Decade” as manifestation of their continued support, involvement, and promotion on the importance of civil registration and vital statistics and its activities towards achieving the goals and the national targets of the CRVS Decade 2015-2024, among others. Moreover, Usec. Mapa presented the different action matters and future direction on civil registration and vital statistics as an outcome of 1NCCRVS.
On the last day of the event, five local civil registrars shared their best practices and innovations on civil registration. This was immediately followed by the presentation of awards to Outstanding Local Civil Registry Offices in the country for the year 2020. (Annex A)
For more details about the 1NCCRVS, including the full transcripts of the messages and paper presentations, you may visit the PSA website at https://www.psa.gov.ph/nccrvs. You may also rewatch the full 3-day event on PSA’s official Facebook page at https://bit.ly/3l63d0y.
- Civil Registration Service, Civil Registration and Central Support Office
