Lifetime validity ng birth, marriage, death certificates pasado na sa Senado

Ni NOEL ABUEL

Ipinasa na ng Senado sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang panukalang naglalayong gawin nang lifetime ang validity ng mga birth, marriage at death certificates.

Sa botong 23 at walang tumutol, ipinasa ang Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2450, o ang Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act.

Kasunod nito isasagawa na ng plenaryo ang  pagbuo ng bicameral  panel upang makabuo ng pinal na bersyon ng parehong panukala na naunang ipinasa ng Mababang Kapulungan ng mga Kongreso.

Pinasalamatan naman ni Senador Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., chairman ng Senate  Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation at sponsor ng pnukala, ang mga kapwa nito senador sa pagsuporta sa nasabing panukala.

“Mr. President, with this piece of legislation, we have clearly and categorically provided the permanent validity of the civil registry documents regardless of the date of issuance.  As such, they will be recognized and accepted in all government or private transactions.  Through this, our people do not have to unnecessarily spend time and money in securing new copies of their documents,” paliwanag ni Revilla. 

Ipinagtataka ni Revilla na bagama’t idineklara na ng PSA sa publiko na ang mga birth certificate na inilabas nito ay walang expiration, ilang ahensya ng gobyerno at pribadong organisasyon ang humihingi nito na may pinakabagong security paper na binabayaran ng mga aplikante ng P155 para sa authenticated copy at P365 kapag delivery.

“There are instances that applicants are required to submit birth certificates issued within the past 6 months. For them to get these documents, Filipinos need to spend time and money. This is especially unfair to those who are first-time jobseekers,” giit pa ni Revilla.

Sa ilalim ng panukala, ang lahat ng mga tanggapan ng gobyerno, pribadong kumpanya, paaralan at non-government entities ay pagbabawalan na mag-obliga na humingi ng bagong birth, death o marriage certificate.

“The certificates of live birth, death, and marriage issued, signed, certified or authenticated by the PSA and its predecessor, the NSO, and the local civil registries shall have permanent validity regardless of the date of issuance and shall be recognized and accepted in all government or private transactions or services requiring submission thereof, as proof of identity and legal status of a person,” nakasaad sa probisyon ng panukala.

Sa sandaling maging batas, sinumang lalabag dito ay makukulong ng anim na buwan at multang aabot ng P10,000.

“If the violation is committed by a public official or employee, an accessory penalty of temporary disqualification to hold public office shall likewise be imposed,” nakasaad pa sa panukala.