Residents of Makati City will get copies of birth certificates and other civil documents for free from Feb. 26 to Feb. 28 in line with the city government’s observance of the Civil Registry Month.
Mayor Abigail Binay said the city’s Civil Registration Office will be issuing for free one certified true copy each of the civil registry certificates of birth, marriage, death, as well as certificate of no record on file to residents and other qualified beneficiaries.
“I encourage our dear Makatizens, and even those who are non-residents but were born or married in Makati, to take advantage of the free service. Individuals with relatives who died in Makati can also get a copy of the death certificate of their loved one for free,” said Binay.
Last year, the City Council passed City Ordinance 2017-023, suspending the collection of local fees imposed for the processing and issuance of certified true copies of certificates of birth, marriage, death, and certificate of no record on file for a number of days as determined by the mayor, during the annual celebration of the civil registration month.
“Since last year, we have allotted three working days for the initiative since we want to accommodate more people as far as practicable, especially those who have less in life. This will help them get the necessary records that they can use for employment, enrollment in school, and for other purposes, free of charge,” the mayor said.
The city chief executive also noted that the theme “Rehistradong Pamilya, May Libreng Isang Kopya” crafted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, “#napapanahongCRVS (Civil Registration and Vital Statistics),” underscores the importance of updated and accurate civil registry records in the planning and implementation of government programs.
The city ordinance entitles the qualified requesting party to one free copy of a civil document from the Civil Registry Office of Makati (for local use only; not PSA/NSO copy). The regular fee will apply for succeeding copies. The requested document will be released after three working days from filing of application.
Requesting parties shall proceed to the CCRO located at the 3rd floor of Makati City Hall Building I and accomplish the Verification Request Form at Window 4. CCRO will be open to accommodate applications for free civil documents from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday next week.
Requesting parties only need to present one valid government-issued ID. Should they request the document for another’s behalf, they will also have to present, aside from a valid ID, an authorization letter and photocopies of their valid ID and of the person named in the document (if of legal age) or of parent (if still a minor).
At present, Makati residents and clients only pay P104 for scheduled release of a civil document to be issued after three working days, or P154 for rushed release, which is issued an hour upon application.
In 2017, CCRO issued a total of 24,016 civil documents consisting of 21,311 rushed releases and 2,705 scheduled releases. Over the last three years, the number of civil documents released by the said office has been increasing, with 23,589 issued in 2016 and 19,545 in 2015.
In 1991, then President Corazon Aquino, through Presidential Proclamation No. 682, declared February of every year as Civil Registration Month. Subsequently in 2005, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared Feb. 23 as the Universal Birth Registration Day.