PSA to help ex-rebels secure birth records

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 10, 2023): PSA to help ex-rebels secure birth records (By Mary Judaline Partlow)

BIRTH RECORDS. The Philippine Statistics Authority in Negros Oriental will assist former rebels of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army to fast-track the release of their birth records. Engr. Ariel Fortuio, PSA-Negros Oriental chief, said his office will also help the FRs in signing up for the national identification program. (Photo by Judy Flores Partlow)

DUMAGUETE CITY – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Negros Oriental on Friday vowed to assist former rebels (FRs) to secure their birth records and other official documents to fast-track their enrolment and subsequent receipt of government financial assistance.

The commitment was made during a meeting on the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP attended by member-agencies, said Engr. Ariel Fortuito, PSA-Negors Oriental provincial director and chief statistical analyst, as PSA celebrates Civil Registration Month.

“We have asked that these former rebels first be identified to determine whether they have been registered or not. From there, we can help facilitate the registration and release of their birth certificates,” Fortuito said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the province earlier said it would take at least a year or so for all E-CLIP requirements are met, noting that in most cases, the FRs do not have birth records and cannot afford to secure a copy of their birth certificate.

At the same time, FRs do not usually have valid identification cards, which slows down the process even more.

“The PSA will meet soon with the different local civil registrars so that we will locate these FRs and register them at the earliest time possible,” Fortuito said.

After this, the PSA will register them through Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) so that they may have their individual national identification cards, he added.

The national ID will be used to open an account with the Land Bank of the Philippines, where all government benefits they are about to receive will be coursed through.

The E-CLIP is a government program that provides assistance and other benefits to FRs so they can return to their families and start a new life through the help of agencies that provide them with livelihood, training, skills, and other valuable knowledge.

Ten FRs who surrendered on separate occasions since 2020 are soon to receive their E-CLIP assistance of PHP 65,000 each on top of other benefits following compliance with all requirements, the DILG here said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194933