14 October 2022, Upi, Maguindanao – The Philippine Statistics Authority- BARMM through its Provincial Statistics Office in Maguindanao and in collaboration with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Upi, has successfully awarded the first batch of Certificates of Live Birth in Security Paper (SecPA) under PhilSys Birth Registration Assistance Project (PBRAP). The awarding ceremony was held at the Municipal Conference Hall of Upi on the 14th of October 2022 and it was organized by Upi Local Civil Registry Office.

The ceremony was headed by Engr. Akan G. Tula, OIC-Regional Director, PSA-BARMM, together with the representatives from PSA central office, Ms. Jucelyn Mae S. Martin and Ms. Terosita Untano; Upi Vice Mayor Wilfredo Ibanez, Mr. Naldo G. Pendaliday, OIC Statistical Specialist of the PSA-Maguindanao; and Mr. Delson Yusop, Registration Officer IV of the RSSO BARMM.

It was also facilitated by Mr. Sawadjaan Manulon, PBRAP Regional Focal Person from the RSSO BARMM; Mr. Efren P. Maido, Registration Officer II of the PSA-Maguindanao as well as Focal Person of PBRAP-Maguindanao; and Ms. Jean P. Bacas, Upi Municipal Civil Registrar.

The successful ceremonial awarding of the Certificate in Security Paper (SecPA) is a result of the efforts of the Office of the Municipal Civil Registrar to intensify the campaign to improve civil registration aligned with the goals of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Decade for 2015-2024. These goals are the following: (1) universal civil registration of births, deaths, and other vital events; (2) all individuals with legal documentation to claim their identity, and civil status, and ensure rights; and (3) accurate, complete, and timely vital registration are produced and disseminated.

The said activity is a manifestation of the implementation of the Birth Registration Project between PSA and the Local Government of Upi, which aims to register a total of 4,958 unregistered births in the municipality. Further, the Project involves the provision of assistance in the processing of delayed registration of births, facilitating the out-of-town registrations and; verification of the existence of civil registry records from the PSA Civil Registry System database; as well as the implementation of the Philippine Civil Registry Information System (PhilCRIS) through mobile registrations.

The registration of the birth records of the beneficiaries will pave the way to access social services and other government or private transactions. This initiative on civil registration is expected to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the beneficiaries since these documents are being used and submitted as one of the basic requirements in school and job applications among others. Surprisingly, the Municipality of Upi has exceeded its official target up to 5,441 from only 4,958 target registrants.