04 February 2025 -SAN NICOLAS, ILOCOS NORTE. The Ilocos Norte Provincial Statistical Office, in coordination with the City and Municipal Governments of the province of Ilocos Norte, officially launched the provincial celebration of the 35th Civil Registration Month through a motorcade in San Nicolas, and Batac City followed by an opening ceremony at Ilocos Norte PSO training room on 04 February 2025.

The event was attended by Local Civil Registrars and staff, and all personnel of the PSO. Its main goal is to increase the public’s awareness on the month-long celebration and to gain support from the Local Government Units and different organizations.

During the motorcade that passed through San Nicolas National Highway going to Batac City proper, the participants distributed brochures on civil registration and National ID system. The Philippine National Police also supported the activity by providing police assistance and patrol car to lead the motorcade. Streamer of the 35th CRM was displayed, and the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics decade jingle was played to continuously inform the public on the celebration.

The opening ceremony was conducted right after the motorcade. Ms. Marilyn P. Vergara, Chief Statistical Specialist of Ilocos Norte PSO, solicited the full support and continuous cooperation of the Local Civil Registry Offices (LCROs) in the implementation of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) programs and policies to increase the efficiency of the delivery of civil registration services to the clients. In her speech, she underscored that this year’s theme “Building a Resilient, Agile, and Future-Fit Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System” highlights not only the importance of CRVS, but a call to every key player and stakeholder to uphold the integrity of the CRVS in order for everyone to enjoy a robust and unhampered delivery of services.  

Meanwhile, Dr. Clemente S. Galiza, Municipal Civil Registrar of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte and president of Ilocos Norte Civil Registrars Association (INCRA), extended the INCRA’s full support to the activities of the PSA. He also highlighted the importance of a more extensive information education campaign to increase awareness and appreciation of civil registration since civil registry documents are necessary to avail government services, especially social services.

The Ilocos Norte PSO calendar of activities, and the LCRO events for the celebration were presented during the opening ceremony. Activities such as mobile registration, mass wedding ceremonies, information dissemination, free issuance of local copies of civil registry documents, free registration of legal instruments and RA 9255, trainings, and civil registration fora, are the major undertakings of the LCROs and PSA in this year’s celebration.

The 2023 Vital Statistics in the province, and National ID System updates and status of registration were also presented during the program.

The Civil Registration Month primarily aims to remind the citizenry of their duty to register acts and events concerning status of persons, enhance nationwide awareness and appreciation of the legal, administrative and statistical values of civil registry documents, and underscore the necessity for Congress to provide adequate funds for enforcement and administration of laws on civil registration.

Sgd. MARILYN P. VERGARA
Chief Statistical Specialist
Ilocos Norte Provincial Statistical Office  
 

JBA