The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region 2 conducted the Vital Statistics Dissemination Forum on February 24, 2023 at Go Hotel, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

In the event’s overview, PSA OIC-Regional Director Girme M. Bayucan underscored the importance of vital statistics in socio-economic developmental undertakings as it constitutes the collection of data on vital events in a lifetime of a person as well as relevant characteristics of those events to the life of the person concerned. “Statistically, vital events are events concerning life and death of individuals, their civil status, and the information of their immediate family members”, Dir. Bayucan said.

Cagayan Valley Region registered a total of 45,648 births in 2021. Among the five provinces, Isabela registered the highest birth registrations at 20,699, followed by Cagayan with 14,410, Nueva Vizcaya with 7,224, Quirino with 3,042, and Batanes registered lowest at 273 births. Since the recorded registration of 56,234 in 2017, the region’s birthrate was observed to continuously decline until 2021.

In terms of births by gender, the region holds a record of more male birth since 2017 to 2021 with an average sex ratio of 110 males per 100 female births.

A total of 12,799 marriages was also recorded in 2021 with an average of 35 marriages being celebrated during the year. Isabela, Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya recorded the highest number of marriages in the region.

There were 32,597 deaths in the region or 3.9 percent increase from 2019 data. Isabela recorded 46 percent of the total deaths, followed by Cagayan at 36 percent, Quirino at 12 percent, Nueva Vizcaya at 4 percent and Batanes at 2 percent. During the peak of pandemic in 2020 and towards the middle of 2021, COVID-19 was considered the top most cause of deaths along with Acute Myocardial Infraction, pneumonia, and stroke.

Vital statistics may project gaps in the health sector and other programs and services. As the country struggles to regain its socioeconomic stature after the pandemic and economic disruptions, these vital statistics are needed to support evidence-based decision-making for more responsive and efficient policies, plans, programs, projects, activities, and services throughout the region and to the country as a whole. #NEDA2-DRD