Butuan city: The Philippine Statistics Authority in the Caraga Region (PSA-13) has launched the Premium Annotation Service (PAS), making its Civil Registry System (CRS) outlet in Butuan City the first in Mindanao to offer the streamlined service.

According to Philippines News Agency, PSA-13 OIC Regional Director Guillermo Lipio Jr. stated that the PAS aims to streamline the annotation of civil registry documents such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, which require court decrees, legal instruments, or supplemental reports. Lipio explained that annotation through PAS is usually done at the PSA Central Office, but with this launch, requests can now be accepted and processed directly at the CRS outlet.

The service covers annotations under Republic Act (RA) 9048 (for clerical errors/change of first name) and RA 10172 (for correcting errors in date of birth or sex), as well as Supplemental Reports and Court Decrees. Key features of the new service include decentralized processing, which means that clients can file annotation requests directly at the regional outlet, faster turnaround time with a target release of the annotated document in 10 working days.

In addition, the new system ensures convenience and security, complete with a tracking system through online and SMS updates, and the issuance of annotated copies on security paper. ‘This milestone highlights PSA Caraga’s pioneering role in bringing civil registration services closer to the people,’ Lipio said in a statement on Wednesday. ‘We reaffirm our commitment to provide innovative, reliable, and people-centered services to our clients.’