The Philippines has taken a leading role in strengthening civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) across the Asia-Pacific, with Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, PhD, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), spearheading the Philippine Delegation at the Third Ministerial Conference on CRVS in Bangkok, Thailand.
Undersecretary Mapa was elected Vice-Chair in the Ministerial segment, where he highlighted the PSA’s ongoing initiatives to enhance civil registration in the Philippines and reaffirmed the nation’s dedication to achieving the ambitious goals of CRVS 2030.
A key outcome of the conference was the formal adoption of the Ministerial Declaration on a Decade of Action for Inclusive and Resilient CRVS in the Asia-Pacific region. This declaration extends the CRVS Decade to 2030, emphasizing the critical need for universal, inclusive, and resilient civil registration systems that provide equitable legal identity for all. It also outlines strategic priorities, including enhancing digital infrastructure with robust privacy safeguards, improving mortality data, and ensuring crisis-resilient service delivery.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) recognized the Philippines’ exceptional leadership in chairing the negotiations for the draft Ministerial Declaration. UNESCAP commended Undersecretary Mapa for his guidance in discussions that reaffirmed the region’s shared commitment to universal and responsive CRVS systems.
“We are committed to expanding online registration platforms and achieving universal coverage to ensure no one is left behind,” Undersecretary Mapa stated during the Senior Officials segment, emphasizing the PSA’s dedication to inclusivity. He highlighted successful PSA initiatives such as the Birth Registration Assistance Project (BRAP), which recently received commendation from UNESCAP as a model policy for bolstering birth registration in Asia and the Pacific. He also underscored the PSA’s ongoing efforts toward digital integration within the CRVS system.
During the “Inclusive and Resilient Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Fit for the Future” Ministerial Panel, Undersecretary Mapa further emphasized the resilience of the Philippines’ CRVS system. He attributed its strength during major disasters like Typhoon Haiyan and the COVID-19 pandemic to strategic reconstruction efforts, the deployment of mobile services, and ongoing digitalization.
