THE administration of Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval is simply taking into consideration the interest of its constituents when she signed for implementation an ordinance enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod exempting calamity victims from paying birth, marriage and death records, among others.
“The new ordinance would grant documentary relief assistance to ‘Malabueños’ affected by fire and other calamities, exempting them from paying document authentication and record verification fees when securing official local records,” Sandoval told Good Riddance.
Known as the ‘Documentary Relief Assistance to Fire and Other Victims of Natural Calamities Ordinance,’ the measure was passed to help ease the burden on affected families by waiving fees for securing birth, marriage, and death certificates.
The council’s presiding officer, Vice Mayor Edwin Nolasco, said eligible residents may avail themselves of the exemption within one year from the date of the incident, through the City Civil Registry Office in coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
The privilege shall only be issued once to the authorized individual – owner of the house, his or her spouse, parent, direct descendants, guardian or institution legally in-charge of him or her (if minor), or the court or proper public official whenever absolutely necessary in administrative, judicial, or other proceedings to determine the identity of a person, he explained.
Documents issued under the ordinance will bear the same validity as those processed with fees and do not expire, the city government said.
The privilege is non-transferable and may only be granted to qualified individuals, it added.
To deter abuse, the ordinance imposes the following penalties for misrepresentation or violations: ₱1,000 for the first offense, ₱2,000 for the second offense and ₱3,000 for the third offense
Lauding the city council for supporting the local executive branch, the city’s first female chief executive reiterated that the initiative reinforces the local government’s commitment to providing “responsive, compassionate, and practical assistance to Malabueños, especially during times of crisis and recovery.”
