Elderly apply for delayed birth registration

CEBU, Philippines - Several elderly persons applied for delayed registration of their birth last February because they wish to avail of the annual cash incentives offered by the Cebu City government to senior citizens.

But Evangeline Abatayo, head of the Office of the Civil Registrar in Cebu City, said only few of the applicants have secured the necessary documents that include their baptismal certificates, school records and others.

As part of the celebration of the Civil Registration Month last February, the government offered delayed registration of birth free of charge for those who applied during the month.

But Abatayo said out of the more than 1,800 applicants, including the several elderly persons, only 208 submitted the required supporting documents and as of yesterday, only 92 were approved.

Those applicants were given until today to complete their documents, otherwise they can no longer avail of the free services.

Some of those who applied for delayed registration of birth believe that the “manghihilot” or local midwives who assisted their mothers during birth failed to have them registered with the Office of the Civil Registrar.

“Mao na nga karon dili na mahimo nga ang pagpa-anak himoon ra sa mga mananabang nga walay magsuperbisar nga midwife aron nga marehestro g’yud ang birth kay ang mga midwives man ang mohimo ani,” Abatayo explained. (This is why we no longer allow unlicensed midwives to supervise mothers.)

Those who register their births outside the 30-day period for registration shall be required to pay P250 penalty, she added.

Meanwhile, Abatayo explained that the Office of the Civil Registrar in Cebu City already availed a P15-million budget from the city for the computerization of their records.

Abatayo explained that once the project would be completed, issuance of records at her office would become faster, perhaps a couple of minutes.

The city also allocated P20 million for the construction of a new building for the Office of Civil Registrar, which is squatting at the ground floor of the Cebu City Health Department building. (FREEMAN)