Taguig continues Mobile Birth Registration in barangays

Under the program that is in line with Mayor Lani Cayetano’s desire to have the births of all Taguigeños registered, a resident born in Taguig will not have to pay any fee for the registration. (Photo: Eugene Alvin Villar (seav) / Wikipedia)

MANILA–To ensure the success of its “100% Birth Registration in Taguig City Program,” the local government of Taguig is bringing to its barangays the enlistment of residents’ births.

Under the program that is in line with Mayor Lani Cayetano’s desire to have the births of all Taguigeños registered, a resident born in Taguig will not have to pay any fee for the registration.

The barangay Mobile Birth Registration (MBR) of the Local Civil Registry (LCR) is slated to run on May 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2017, and is scheduled to make the rounds in 17 barangays — New Lower Bicutan, Hagonoy, San Miguel, Tuktukan, Sta. Ana, Napindan, Ibayo, Fort Bonifacio, Pinagsama, Katuparan, Upper Bicutan, Maharlika Village, Central Bicutan, Lower Bicutan, Bagumbayan, Western Bicutan, and Ususan.

Taguig City Civil Registrar Cynthia T. Ignacio said that they chose these barangays which have been identified as the location of most of their target population. She said the residents there could take advantage of the summertime, when most of them can process their documents since the children are on school vacation.

To process a delayed registration of birth, a requester need only bring original copies of the required documents, which may vary depending on the age and status of the requester, a copy of the requester’s latest original Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) — formerly known as the National Statistics Office — negative result, the personal appearance of witnesses and parents of the requester; and a valid ID of the requester or that of the parents or guardian. A birth registration is considered delayed if the requesting party was not able to process his or her birth information at the CRO within 30 days from date of birth.

A free copy of the birth certificate can then be picked up at the Local Civil Registrar’s Office 10 days after the completed transaction. Ignacio urged parents to register their children’s births on time, saying “birth certificates serve as one’s identity.” Without a birth certificate, a person may be considered stateless and would encounter serious difficulties in availing of government services, enrolling at schools, and landing jobs.

After the MBR at the barangays, the Local Civil Registry will also be conducting MBRs in selected Taguig public schools. This time, the target will be pupils whose births are still not registered.

A survey conducted by the Taguig City Integrated Survey System (TCISS) found that the births of more than 4,000 residents remain unregistered. The Local Civil Registry thus begun its MBR program which has since registered 1,826 births. The LCR expects to complete the registration of the remaining 2,523 unregistered individuals in the city before 2019.

Apart from giving free birth registration services, the CRO organizes mass weddings, provides mobile passport services, and even issues, for free, certified true copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates.