Aklan’s birth registration up 1.2 percent in 2019

Birth registration in Aklan increased by 1.2 percent in 2019 based on the record of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

A total of 13, 854 births were registered last year, higher by 158 compared to 2018’s 13, 696 births.

The highest increase in birth registration was recorded in New Washington with 56 percent (from 232 in 2018 to 361 in 2019), followed by Madalag with 23 percent (from 335 in 2018 to 412 in 2019), and Altavas with 11 percent (from 341 in 2018 to 380 in 2019).

On the other hand, biggest drop in registration was recorded in Lezo with -31% (from 103 to 71), Balete with -27% (from 493 to 362), and Nabas with -22% (from 569 to 441).

Almost half (49%) of the registration took place in Kalibo with 6, 840, followed by Ibajay and Libacao with 1, 358 births (10%) and 1,058 births (8%), respectively.

Of the 17 municipalities, two towns reported positive differentials in the number of births by place of occurrence versus usual place of residence of mother.

These municipalities are Kalibo with 5, 185 births and Ibajay with 18 births.

According to Provincial Statistics Officer Antonet Catubuan the positive differential is an indicative that expectant mothers gave birth outside of their usual place of residence due to better health care facilities and social services available in the receiving municipality.

In a data forum conducted by PSA-Aklan last February, civil registrars, also, cited the pending operation of birthing clinic in the municipalities of Numancia and Lezo as contributor to the higher number of expectant mothers giving birth especially in Kalibo.

By month, March obtained the most number of registrations with 1, 365 births, followed by May with 1, 343 births, and November with 1, 208 births.

Meanwhile, the months of August and September posted the lowest number of registration with 951 and 1, 090 births, respectively.

The birth registration data were derived from copies of birth certificates submitted monthly by civil registry offices to PSA.