The Iloilo City Council approved on Wednesday, Aug. 19, an ordinance providing a free correction for typographical and clerical errors in the entries of birth, marriage and death certificates for indigent residents of this highly urbanized city.
Councilor Jose Maria Miguel Treñas, author of the ordinance, said their office has been swamped with queries regarding the concern, hence the local legislation is necessary. He said even a correction of one letter only comes with a fee.
Without this local ordinance waiving the fees, Treñas said the city government collects payment ranging between P1,000 and P3,000.
“Our Local Civil Registrar requested us for an ordinance to make clear who are qualified for exemption. We need to raise awareness,” he said during the floor deliberation before the approval for second and final reading.
Meanwhile, early this year, Councilor Frances Grace Parcon-Torres also filed a proposed ordinance institutionalizing the free certified true copies and late registration for birth and marriage for all females in Iloilo City every Wednesday of March.
Parcon-Torres pursued the initiative, citing its impact, especially on those who could not afford to pay for the civil registration.
Late birth registration costs over P1,000, not to mention the late registration for birth and marriage. Registration is considered late when it is not processed within 30 days.PNA
