by Venus G. Villanueva
The Civil Registry Service catered by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Kalibo, Aklan, better known as “Serbilis Center” collected some P10,798,555.00 in fees during its operation for the periods June – December 2006 and January – September, 2007.
The Provincial Statistics Office, Kalibo, Aklan reported during the Statistical Forum, one of the highlights of Aklan’s celebration of National Statistics Month last October that capped Aklan’s month-long NSM celebration.
According to the NSO, the Serbilis Center issues civil registry documents in security papers, authenticates civil registry documents, issues birth and marriage certificates, and certificates of no marriage.
The NSO-Aklan pointed out, the certificate of no marriage is now required before marriage, which demands for the service is now high in Aklan. Other highly demanded service of the center is the issuance of birth certificates, being essential for school enrollment, licensure examination application and job-hunting activities of students, fresh graduates and young professionals.
According to the NSO, the demand for issuance of birth certificates and other documents peaks in the months of April, May and June as these papers are needed for graduation, enrollment, work applications and marriages. Besides the Aklanons, residents from Capiz, Antique and even Mindoro and Romblon flock to the Serbilis Center in Aklan.
In Western Visayas, there are only three Serbilis Centers. These are located in Negros Occidental, Iloilo City and Aklan.
The Serbilis Center in Aklan also helps in generating income for Aklanons by making entrepreneurs out of some who sell food and other basic necessities in the center vicinity. Tricyle drivers park and wait outside the office for passengers. Some non-Aklanon clients also help Aklan’s tourism industry by visiting areas of interest like Boracay Island and nearby tourists spots while waiting for their papers to be released.
“However, we are also sorry that in the course of delivery of our services, some romances were broken,” according to Peter Mangilog of NSO. “Because of the church’ and other officiating authorities’ requirement of Certificates of No Marriage (CENOMA), many Aklanons and non-Aklanons discovered that their partners are already married as revealed in the NSO record. Hence, they could not be married anymore.”
“At present, NSO Aklan is experiencing some problems like manpower shortage and limited space. However, the office is undaunted to bringing service closer to the people” Mangilog said. Provincial Statistics Officer Blas M. Solidum heads NSO Aklan.
Aklan Product Showcase At SM City Iloilo
Aklan’s products will go on a showcase again at SM City-Iloilo Lower Ground Activity Center on November 12 – 18, 2007.
Now on its 5th year, some twenty-five (25) Aklan Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are participating.
A wide collection of unique woven fabrics, fashion accessories, home decor, furniture and furnishings and ornamental plants will be featured in the product showcase, DTI-Aklan Provincial Director Ermelinda Pollentes reported.
“Sumptuous Aklan meat products and delicacies will also be showcased. These products available for sale come from members of the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association and other assisted sectoral associations. Selected beneficiaries of the One-Town-One Product (OTOP) and Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) will also join”, said Director Pollentes.
The 5th Aklan Product Showcase is organized by the DTI and the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association in cooperation with the provincial government of Aklan.
The holding of the showcase and the support of Aklanons as well as buyers and viewers at the venue is being hoped by the DTI to inspire Aklan SMEs to continuously develop new products that will cater to the needs of existing and potential buyers. The opening and cutting of the ribbon is set on November 12 at 2:00 p.m., according to Director Pollentes.
The holding of Aklan Product Showcase in Iloilo City is one of the current major activities of the DTI in Region 6. Just recently, Aklan held the Provincial Summit Series on Small and Medium Enterprise Development at the Sam-paguita Gardens, New Washington, Aklan. The same activities were earlier held in the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Negros Occidental and Guimaras.
The Provincial Summit Series was organized by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (SMEDSEP), DTI, and the German Technical Cooperation. /MP
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