BACOLOD City – A 103-year-old woman from Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, died the night before she was supposed to receive her birth certificate on official security paper (SECPA) from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Eufronia Pitong Fernandez, born on Aug. 5, 1920, was set to become the province’s oldest beneficiary of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Birth Registration Assistance Project (PBRAP).
“Mrs. Fernandez passed away on Aug. 9 at 7 p.m., the night before her authenticated birth certificate would have been provided,” said Luis Gonzales, chief statistical specialist of PSA-Negros Occidental.
On Aug. 10, the PSA and the City Civil Registry Office (CCRO) went to the Fernandez house in Hacienda Ruiz, Purok 12, Barangay Libacao to award her birth certificate, and it was then they learned of the centenarian’s passing.
Still, they proceeded with the awarding rites. Fernandez’s children, Constancio Meñeza and Mercedes Tico, received their mother’s birth certificate from Gonzales in the presence of Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson and City Civil Registrar Valentina Guancia.
Last month, one of the centenarian’s children sought assistance during the mobile registration by the CCRO with the aid of a PSA agent.
The CCRO visited her on July 18 as part of the process of issuing her birth certificate.
Meanwhile, on July 13, the PSA also awarded the birth certificate of a 101-year-old woman in neighboring Kabankalan City.
Enriquita Quillano Olitan, born on Sept. 5, 1921, received her birth document in the official SECPA at her residence in Purok Narra 1, Barangay Tampalon.
The PBRAP, implemented by the PSA in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the local government units, aims to increase civil registration, especially in marginalized communities such as the indigenous peoples, Muslim Filipinos and the poorest sector. (PNA)/PN
