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Also, the matters contained in the following were written in accordance with the law, rules, and jurisprudence prevailing at the time of writing and posting, and do not include any future developments on the subject matter under discussion.
AT A GLANCE:
Republic Act No. 10625, signed into law in 2013, created the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The PSA is the highest policy-making body on statistical matters. It shall be primarily responsible for all national censuses and surveys, sectoral statistics, consolidation of selected administrative recording systems and compilation of the national accounts.
The data produced by the PSA shall be the official and controlling statistics of the government. (Source: Section 5, Republic Act No. 10625)
Republic Act No. 10625 or the Philippine Statistics Act of 2013, aiming to reorganize the Philippine Statistics System (PSS) both structurally and functionally, created the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The law says:
“There shall be created a Philippine Statistics Authority, hereinafter referred to as the PSA, attached to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for purposes of policy coordination. It shall be comprised of the PSA Board and offices on sectoral statistics, censuses and technical coordination, civil registration and central support and field statistical services.
The PSA Board shall be the highest policy-making body on statistical matters. The data produced by the PSA shall be the official and controlling statistics of the government. The PSA shall be primarily responsible for all national censuses and surveys, sectoral statistics, consolidation of selected administrative recording systems and compilation of the national accounts.” (Section 5, R.A. No. 10625)
Functions of the PSA
Section 6 of the Philippine Statistics Act of 2013 provides for the functions of the PSA.
The law says:
“The PSA shall have the following functions:
- Serve as the central statistical authority of the Philippine government on primary data collection;
- Prepare and conduct periodic censuses on population, housing, agriculture, fisheries, business, industry and other sectors of the economy;
- Collect, compile, analyze, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the country’s economic, social, demographic, political affairs and general activities and condition of the people;
- Prepare and conduct statistical sample surveys on all aspects of socioeconomic life including agriculture, industry, trade, finance, prices and marketing information, income and expenditure, education, health, culture and social situations as well as the government and the political sector for the use of the government and the public;
- Carry out, enforce and administer civil registration functions in the country as provided for in Act No. 3753, otherwise known as the Civil Registry Law;
- Collaborate with departments of the national government including GOCCs and their subsidiaries in the collection, compilation, maintenance and publication of statistical information, including special statistical data derived from the activities of those departments, corporations and their subsidiaries;
- Promote and develop integrated social and economic statistics and coordinate plans for the integration of those statistics, including the national accounts;
- Develop and maintain appropriate frameworks and standards for the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of data;
- Coordinate with government departments and local government units (LGUs) on the promotion and adoption of statistical standards involving techniques, methodologies, concepts, definitions and classifications, and on the avoidance of duplication in the collection of statistical information;
- Conduct continuing methodological, analytical and development activities, in coordination with the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI) to improve the conduct of censuses, surveys and other data collection activities;
- Recommend executive and legislative measures to enhance the development of the statistical activities and programs of the government;
- Prepare, in consultation with the PSA Board, a Philippine Statistical Development Program (PSDP);
- Implement policies on statistical matters and coordination, as directed by the PSA Board; and
- Perform other functions as may be assigned by the PSA Board and as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.” (Section 6, R.A. No. 10625)
On July 28, 2022, Republic Act No. 11909 or the “Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act” has lapsed into a law. It aims to promote the efficiency and economy by removing duplicitous processes and requirements involving the issuance and use of these certificates. (Section 2, R.A. No. 11909)
The law says:
“The certificates of live birth, death, and marriage issued, signed, certified, or authenticated by the PSA and its predecessor, the NSO, and the local civil registries shall have permanent validity regardless of the date of issuance and shall be recognized and accepted in all government or private transactions or services requiring submission thereof, as proof of identity and legal status of a person: Provided, That the document remains intact, readable, and still visibly contains the authenticity and security features: Provided, further, That this is without prejudice to an administrative or judicial correction that may be conducted pursuant to [relevant laws]: Provided, finally, That the permanent validity of the Certificate of Marriage is applicable only in an instance where the marriage has not been judicially decreed annulled or declared void ab initio as provided for under the Family Code of the Philippines or any subsequent amendatory law on marriage.
In cases when the texts on the certificate appear illegible, or an administrative correction or a judicial decree has been approved, the concerned person shall thus submit the new, amended, or updated certificate.
This provision likewise applies to reports of birth, death, or marriage registered and issued by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts, and transmitted to the PSA.” (Section 3, R.A. No. 11909)
Read also: The PHILSYS Act (Philippine Identification System Act, R.A. No. 11055)
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