Salceda files bill to abolish ‘cedula’, ease registrations

An official on Tuesday filed a bill seeking to streamlines government processes, abolish the Community Tax Certificate and order that business registration be reduced to one day.

The bill would also provide that social services be made accessible anywhere in the country.

Albay Rep. Jose Clemente Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, filed House Bill 8455 titled “Government Services Modernization Bill,” which would streamline inefficient government processes and abolish redundant government processes and requirements.

Among the reforms in the bill are the abolition of the cedula or community tax certificate, one-day business registration and the “portability” of all social benefits including Philhealth, Social Security System, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and other social programs.

“The cedula has become obsolete for almost all intents and purposes. It’s time we phased it out as it adds nearly an entire day to most government transactions that require it. The cedula was established when the use of government identification cards was not yet widespread. That is no longer the case. As a government requirement, punitin na natin ang cedula,” Salceda said.

Salceda’s bill would allow the President to suspend requiring the Community Tax Certification or cedula in government transactions.

“The cedula has been found to be an inadequate form of identification and an ineffective tool for local government collection, and is hence redundant in most occasions,” Salceda explains in his bill.

The use of the modern community tax certificate as a form of identification is prescribed in the (Aquilino Jr.) Pimentel Law, the Local Government Code. Section 163 of the LGC requires individuals to present a CTC when Acknowledging a document before a notary public, taking the oath of office upon election or appointment to government service, receiving licenses or permits from public authorities, receiving money from a public fund, transacting official business and receiving salary or wages from a person or corporation.

“The cedula is obviously redundant for all of these transactions. It’s time for it to go,” Salceda said.

Salceda’s bill would also provide that social benefits be linked with the National ID system to prevent them from being used in politics as in the case of certain benefits that are linked to specific local governments or territorial jurisdictions.

Salceda adds that transport costs prevent the poor from fully benefiting from social programs. Salceda’s bill proposes to ease venue rules and link social benefits to a nationwide database so that eligible citizens can avail of the benefits anywhere in the country.

In addition, the bill would mandate that new businesses be registered in one day.

“If the powers provided in this bill are used fully, business registration in could be reduced to just one day with the client facing just one clearing agency. The bill will also empower the President to eliminate redundant authorizations within the Executive Branch.”