8 March 2024 – ROMBLON, ROMBLON. The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and Romblon Federation of Senior Citizens (RFSC) conducted their 1^st Quarter 2024 Meeting last February 28, 2024 at Dream Paradise Mountain Resort, Mapula, Romblon, Romblon.

During the said meeting, Engr. Johnny F. Solis, Chief Statistical Specialist, introduces the Birth Registration Assistance Project (BRAP), a project between the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) that aims to increase the level of civil registration specially in marginalized communities and offers free registration of birth. He patiently discussed to the participants how a particular unregistered senior citizen can be registered in the program and receive an authenticated PSA copy of their birth certificate to serve as their proof of birth. He was assisted by Ms. Alice C. Fetalvero, the RSFC President, in explaining how to accurately fill-up the forms for verification of their members. This is to ensure that accurate data will be provided to PSA for their verification in the database of the prospect registrants.

During the Open Forum, several questions were raised particularly about  requirement matters. CSS Solis expounded that whilst it is important to have the registration, it is also imperative that the requirements to be submitted are facts of birth about the registrants because correction of these birth records will cost more. Some municipal officers expressed intention about conduct the same orientation to their members at the municipal level for them to fully understand the process and requirements.

Ms. Sharon C. Galiga, the OIC-Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, was also present during the activity and expressed appreciation for the BRAP which would be very helpful to our senior citizens to have their birth certificates which are primary requirements for their social pensions.