By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday reported to the Senate that it has identified hundreds of irregular late birth registrations and blocked more than a thousand certificates of live birth nationwide as part of reforms to strengthen the country’s civil registry system.
During the budget hearing of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) and its attached agencies, PSA National Statistician Undersecretary Dennis Mapa said the agency reviewed late registrations from 2010 to 2024 using data analytics and field validation.
Out of 50,000 questionable entries, 840 were deemed “highly irregular.”
Two from Pikit, North Cotabato have already been recommended for cancellation, with reports that the registrants were possibly of Chinese nationality.
Mapa added that the PSA has endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General the cancellation of 1,472 birth certificates and three marriage certificates.
He clarified that while these cases came from several areas, more than 1,000 originated in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.
“While the OSG studies these cases, all affected documents have already been blocked in our system to prevent their release,” he said.
The PSA has also made reforms requiring individuals filing for late registration to simultaneously enroll in the national ID system, capturing both demographic and biometric data for verification.
Continuous audits of local civil registry offices are being conducted, with at least four personnel already facing cases for irregular issuances, Mapa said. (PNA)
