PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended the Philippine civil registration and vital statistics program until 2030 to improve the country's vital statistics, Malacañang said Friday.
The President, through Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, issued Proclamation 1339 extending the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Decade following the completion of its initial 2015 to 2024 implementation period.
Under the proclamation signed on July 6, the President designates the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) as the lead agency responsible for coordinating, overseeing, and monitoring the implementation of programs and initiatives under the extended CRVS Decade in coordination with concerned government agencies and stakeholders.
"During the CRVS Decade, the Philippines achieved significant progress in improving birth and death registration, expanding access to legal identity for marginalized sectors, and strengthening inter-agency and stakeholder partnerships," read the President's proclamation.
"Notwithstanding these gains, challenges remain, including gaps in the universal and timely registration of births and deaths, limited integration of health and civil registry systems, and the need for further digitalization," it added.
The initiative is in line with the Philippines' commitment to the regional framework of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The extension follows the agreement reached during the Third Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific, where participating states decided to continue the regional CRVS Decade until 2030 to align with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to the pact through the adoption of the 2025 Ministerial Declaration on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific and PSA Board Resolution No. 14, series of 2025.
Republic Act 10625, or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013, mandates the PSA to carry out, enforce, and administer the country's civil registration functions. Earlier, PSA Board Resolution No. 3 (s. 2015) and Proclamation No. 1106 (s. 2015) declared 2015 to 2024 as the CRVS Decade in the Philippines in support of the Unescap regional initiative.
Under Proclamation 1339, all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, are directed to provide the necessary support and assistance to the PSA.
Local government units, nongovernment organizations, and the private sector are encouraged to actively participate in implementing programs and initiatives under the extended CRVS Decade.
