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101OG No. 15, 2393 (April 11, 2005)
[ PROCLAMATION NO. 790, February 14, 2005 ]
DECLARING FEBRUARY 23, 2005 AS NATIONAL BIRTH REGISTRATION DAY
WHEREAS, Section 3 (2), Article XV of the 1987 Constitution provides that the state shall defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the aforementioned Constitutional mandate, the Philippines is committed to the attainment of a 100% birth registration for the year 2005-2010 in accordance with the National Plan of Action for Children and Child 21;
WHEREAS, the Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which provides that every child should be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name and the right to acquire a nationality (Article 7);
WHEREAS, birth registration represents the state’s official recognition of every child’s importance and identity as a Filipino citizen;
WHEREAS, birth registration establishes and guarantees all other rights and entitlement of the child’s right to survival, development, protection and participation;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare February 23, 2005 as National Birth Registration Day.
All concerned departments, agencies and local government units are hereby enjoined to promulgate and promote measures for the adoption of effective registration procedures, including the elimination of fees, in accordance with Civil Registry Laws, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other existing laws.
All concerned department, agencies and local government units and non-government organizations are likewise enjoined to hold simple ceremonies or activities in observance of the Universal Campaign for Birth Registration.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 14-th day of February in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Five.
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL – ARROYO
By the President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary