CHAPTER ONE

Background of the Study

We are now living in the world of modernization wherein every aspect of our lives is now technologically advanced. Our generation is now dubbed as the “Information Era” wherein every piece of information is essential in the sense that a single mistake would cause a lot of trouble. As one of the developing and progressing country, Philippines now is trying to innovate in terms of technology for us not to be left by the trends in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). From manual procedures, we try to automate our transactions. One good instance is the Civil Registry System of the National Statistics Office which involves the computerization of the civil registry operations of NSO. NSO-CRS is a centralized information system designed to collect, store and manage civil registry documents (CRDs) and the specimen signature of all city and municipal registrars including all CRS authorized signatories, using the imaging technology.  As we can perceive, every establishments are also leveling up their awareness in technologies. The supermarkets, malls, grocery stores, offices, gasoline stations, restaurants, hotels, lodges, banks, offices and even the smallest business enterprise uses computerized programs to fasten their transactions specially in transactions which involves documents, files, records and money.

The inspiration behind the conceptualization of this study is the perceived transaction in the Serbilis Center at the National Statistics Office in the province. The idea is that if they can have that kind of transaction why not apply to the churches for them to experience this new trend of  technology considering that churches are not exempted from progress. One more inspiration is that the curiosity that bugs the mind of the researcher on how the NSO employee can download the certificate without using the internet.

It is for this reasons that the researcher have sought of conducting a study for the benefits of the church and its members entitled “CENTRALIZED BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATION RECORD MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR CATHOLIC CHURCHES in the Diocese of Bayombong”. Although churches have separate legislation from the government, they still are entitled to sustain progress not only spiritually but technologically as well. The researcher has chosen to propose the study to the Catholic parishioners of the Diocese of Bayombong, because according to researches that the researcher has made, aside from the fact that the researcher is located in the research locale, the diocese consists of numbers of churches which has numerous devotees. 

Conceptual Framework

            The research entitled “Centralized Baptismal Certification and Record Management System for Catholic Churches of the Diocese of Bayombong” has a framework which is included in the discussion as basis for developing the system. The concept of the researcher on the study was stated below:

The researcher has identified that the Catholic churches is not yet technologically equipped, thus the process for their record management is too slow. When a person is trying to acquire a baptismal certificate for her children from the parish secretary, he/she needs to fill in the necessary information required by the form. For issuance of certification, the parish secretary type in the information on the readymade form using the typewriter. Certain improvements and changes shall be made when the system is implemented. The authorized personnel or the parish secretary will gather the information from the availee of the baptismal certificate. Same procedure will be applied for the second time availee of the certification. All records and informations will be kept in the database. The old records will be uploaded also in the system for the benefit of the members who did not reach the implementation of the system.

Research has been made by the researcher and went to three Catholic churches (St. Louis Beltran Parish of Solano, St. Jerome Parish of Bagabag and St. Dominic Parish of Bayombong) in the province to gather some important information. After some interview with regards to their transactions and data was enough, the researcher analyzed the existing system which is the manual procedure, identify and analyze the problem and come up with solutions which will suit the needs of the applicant getting a baptismal certificate and to have a fast, reliable computerized and centralized record management system software for the benefit of the Catholic churches.

When the study is realized, a centralized baptismal certification and record management system will be developed and will be installed to every Catholic Churches in the Philippines.

If there are some errors, bugs, or modifications with the implemented system, then the researchers have to evaluate, change or to modify the system for a better or best result/outcome of the project.

Statement of the Problem

The main problem which the researcher has found is that whenever a person needs his/ her baptismal certificate, he/she will need to go to her parish to avail the needed document. The question is that “What if the person is based on Quirino and his/her parish is located on Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya? Will she spend money going to the proximity just to avail the files?” That would be problem to be solved and one more problem is that they have no definite records for the availee. They still used the typewriter in typing their information and that they still have to repeat inputting the records and put them to drawers and cabinets for filing so when a person will come to avail they would dig those files in the cabinets most especially when the records is dated way back many century, decade and years ago.

The researcher has also found out that these employees in the parish hall are not technically equipped and has a minimal knowledge on operating the computer. Some problems have been identified regarding their process of manual record management. Below are the specific problems identified by the researcher that she attempts to solve:

1.    How can the parishioners adopt the changes from the manual to a computerize way of managing their records?

2.    How fast will they understand the system if they are not aware of this technologies?

3.    Does the system benefits the church and its congregation?

4.    Will the proposed system help the church and its members to have a better transaction and source of information?

5.    How reliable is the system in terms of generating reports, certifications and uploading of old records?  

6.    How secured is the system from hackers and other evil-hearted who attempts to corrupt the system?

7.    How does the system cope up with the changes of the technologies?

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