By Rose Palacio

Davao City (19 February) -- The National Statistics Office (NSO) is set to submit to the Office of the President the official population count on February 28, 2008 for the signature of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

This was bared by Leah Magracia, NSO XI expert statistician during the ARENA XI Forum over DXRP Radyo ng Bayan anchored by Josette Olivera and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) together with NSO OIC-Director Raul Gomez and Administrative Officer V of NSO XI, Melba V. Danlay.

Once the official population count is signed by the President, the NSO would be ready to disseminate the official results of the population census which was conducted in August last year (2007), Director Gomez said.

As part of February Registration month-long celebration, the NSO has been conducting information dissemination on the important of birth registration in various radio stations. This year's theme is: "Tamang Rehistro, Daan sa Kinabukasan mo."

In answer to a query, OIC-Director Gomez said the NSO is issuing Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) for those who want to contract marriage with the opposite sex.

CENOMAR is being conducted by NSO to help prevent the occurrence of multiple marriage. A CENOMAR is issued to applicants if his or her name does not appear in the National Indices of Marriage.