Iloilo city: A proposed ordinance institutionalizing the free certified true copies and late registration for birth and marriage for all females in Iloilo City every Wednesday of March is being pushed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council). Councilor Frances Grace Parcon-Torres, in an interview on Wednesday, said she wanted to pursue the initiative, citing its impact, especially on those who could not afford to pay for the civil registration.
According to Philippines News Agency, Parcon-Torres emphasized the financial relief this proposal could provide, noting that late birth registration costs over PHP1,000, not to mention the fees for late registration of marriages. Registration is considered late when it is not processed within 30 days, making this initiative particularly beneficial for those who have missed the deadline.
Parcon-Torres highlighted their efforts to visit barangays to educate constituents on the significance of timely document registration. The scale of the issue was underscored by the fact that in 2025, there were around 11,000 late registrations for births.
Besides the free civil registration initiative, Parcon-Torres also proposed the 'Bawal Bastos' Ordinance of Iloilo City. This ordinance aims to address gaps in the national law, particularly concerning incidents in public utility vehicles and online harassment. Parcon-Torres noted that some aspects of the national law were insufficiently covered and needed to be tailored to the city's specific needs.
Both proposed ordinances have successfully passed the first reading at the City Council, marking a significant step towards addressing these local issues.