BLCR and PSA Hold Seminar to Solemnizing Officers

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – “Sama Ka sa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Groupie” is in line with modernization. This promotes not only civil registration but vital statistics as well” , said Ms. Lourdes J. Hufana, Interim Assistant National Statistician for Civil Registration Services, referring to the theme of the 2015 Civil Registration Month, in her welcome address during the Seminar-Workshop for Solemnizing Officers and other Stakeholders held at Bulwagan 2, Capitol Compound, this City last February 23.

Aimed at addressing the issues and problems in the marriage certificates through lectures in Laws in Marriage and refresher course in Administrative Order No. 1, series of 2007, said seminar-workshop organized by the Bataan League of Civil Registrars (BLCR), in close coordination with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Bataan, received overwhelming response from the religious sects and denominations around the province resulting to more than a hundred participants.

In his welcome address, Hon. Jose Enrique S. Garcia III, City Mayor of Balanga emphasized the City Government’s efforts to give importance to family. Aside from other programs implemented by the city, Mayor Garcia sees the roles that the office of the civil registrars and solemnizing officers play in achieving such goal.

Mr. Edgardo G. Pare, Interim Regional Director of PSA- Region III underscored in his inspirational message the strong partnership between the local civil registry offices and PSA in providing civil registration services in the province.

The speakers for the day were Ledesma L. Morante, Provincial Statistics Officer of PSA Bataan, Arlene M. Divino, Provincial Statistics Officer of PSA Tarlac and Francisco P. Corpuz, Statistician II, PSA Bataan. Participants were given enough time to clear issues through open forum at the end of each discussion.

The Civil Registration Month is an annual celebration every February observed by the Philippine Statistics Authority and Local Civil Registry Offices since 1991 by virtue of Proclamation 682 signed by President Corazon C. Aquino.

Commonwealth Act 3753 mandates that all civil officers and priests or ministers authorized to solemnize marriages shall send a copy of each marriage contract solemnized by them to the local civil registrar within the time limit specified in the existing Marriage Law. The local registrar shall keep and preserve in the office civil registry documents which include marriages. Republic Act 10625 on the other hand directs PSA to carry out, enforce and administer the CA 3753 in the delivery of civil registration services.

The Bataan League of Civil Registrar, which is the official organization of local civil registrars in the province, is headed by its President, Marilyn C. Cruz, City Civil Registrar of Balanga.