Date of Release: 27 February 2024

Reference No. PRDDN2024-002

“Facilitating identity empowerment through collaboration”

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has a mandate of registering all vital events of a person in his lifetime. Through this mandate, Birth Registration Assistance Project (BRAP) was created to give assistance on the late registration of an individual. The “Friends Rescued” (FRs) are included as beneficiaries of BRAP. They were the former rebels (FR) or NPA fighters that laid down their arms and return to the fold of the law. 

On 19 January, the FRs received their Certificate of Live Birth (COLB) during the Awarding Ceremony at 60^th Infantry Battalion (60^th IB) Compound, Doña Andrea, Municipality of Asuncion, Province of Davao del Norte.  

The awarding ceremony was inaugurated by Colonel Merrill C. Sumalinog, the Battalion Commander of the 60^th IB. Relatedly, Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa, Ph.D., the National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) directly handed over the Certificate of Live Birth to the Friends Rescued. 

Several PSA personnel actively participated in the ceremony, including Chief Statistical Specialist Pepito D. Amoyen of Davao del Norte, OIC Regional Director (Chief Statistical Specialist) Randolph Anthony B. Gales, Chief Statistical Specialist Rogelio T. Lebria of Davao del Sur, Chief Statistical Specialist Jessie A. Madulin of Davao Occidental, and OIC Emily P. Tomogdan (Supervising Statistical Specialist) of Davao Oriental.

Additionally, representatives from the Local Government Units of Talaingod and Kapalong, namely Municipal Civil Registrar Jaidee Sanico (Talaingod) and OIC Grace Alegre (Kapalong), actively participated in the event, efforts between various demonstrating collaborative agencies.

The coordination between PSA PSO-Davao del Norte and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) of Davao del Norte played a crucial role in facilitating the provision of identity to the FRs through the issuance of their Certificate of Live Birth during this significant activity.

PEPITO D. AMOYEN

Chief Statistical Specialist