PRESS RELEASE
WDC-60-2025
10 September 2025
Embassy Press and Information Section
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consular officials from the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the United States and officials from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) convened on 09 September 2025 for a virtual meeting aimed at improving delivery of civil registry services to overseas Filipinos.
Civil registry documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, are more than just records on paper. They are the foundation for accessing citizenship, passports, and other essential services. For example, a child born in the United States to a Filipino parent must be reported to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate to be officially registered as a Filipino citizen.
During the meeting, the PSA, led by Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande, shared the latest guidance on civil registry and available services to overseas Filipinos, while consular officers discussed the common challenges they encounter in processing civil registry applications from the United States. While not all issues could be resolved immediately, PSA officials acknowledged the importance of these inputs and committed to taking them into account in future policy reviews.
“The challenges we encounter in civil registry work overseas are not merely administrative. They directly affect the rights and welfare of our kababayan,” said Consul General Donna Rodriguez.
Both sides reaffirmed their shared goal: to make civil registry services more accessible, consistent, and responsive to the needs of Filipinos, wherever they may be. The Embassy extends its appreciation to the PSA for its direct engagement with its consular officers, the last of which was held in 2016
For more information on how to report the birth, marriage, or death of a Filipino, please visit philippineembassy-dc.org/civil-registration or email consular@phembassy-us.org. ###