THE House Committee on Population and Family Relations chaired by Isabela Rep. Ian Paul Dy on Tuesday approved the crafting of a substitute bill to three bills which seek to establish a comprehensive and responsive civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system.
Committee vice chairperson and United Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Milagros Aquino Magsaysay, who presided over the meeting, instructed committee secretary Lita Magnaye to draft the consolidated version of House Bills 4480 authored by Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr., 8823 filed by Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy and 9572 authored by Speaker Martin Romualdez, Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and BHW Party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co.
In the explanatory note of HB 9572, Speaker Romualdez said civil registration serves as the principal means for individuals to establish legal identity, civil status and family relations. Thus, civil registration is essential for accessing health, education and other public and social services.
On the other hand, he said vital statistics reveal crucial demographic and health information for policy makers.
The Speaker explained that it takes three years in the Philippines, to produce a full vital statistics report using civil registration as the data source.
“In the interim period, some vital statistics based on civil registration records are released on varying timeframes, including birth, marriage, and some mortality indicators,” he said.
To improve the country’s CRVS system, Speaker Romualdez said HB 9572 aims to establish a more efficient, inclusive standardized and modernized system with increased coverage and enhanced involvement from the barangay.
Moreover, the bill incorporates key international human rights frameworks, and would be used as evidence base for social, economic and health policies.
The bill would also simplify procedures in recording vital events.
The bill would also mandate the digitalization of records, as well as the free registration of vital civil registry events and delayed registration program, according to him.
Officials from various government agencies, such as Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), expressed support for the bills.
