14 upland barangays benefit from free legal, registration services

CEBU, Philippines – Since its launch in June this year, 14 barangays have so far benefited from the Enhancing Legal, Medical and Office of the City Civil Registrar (OCCR) Awareness program of the city government.

The program gives residents in upland barangays a chance to avail of free notarial services and file their birth registration and correct entries in their birth certificates for free. Personnel of the Cebu City Legal Office and OCCR bring the services to the barangays every Saturday.

The program aims to bring services of the city government closer to the people, especially those living in mountain barangays who have very limited access to offices at City Hall and/or who are discouraged to work on the documents due to the high cost in processing.

So far, city legal office and OCCR personnel have visited Barangays Lusaran, Tabunan, Tagbao, Taptap, Sinsin, Sudlon I and II, Adlaon, Cambinocot, Paril, Sirao, Toong, Guba and Mabini.

On Saturday and the remaining Saturdays until December 18, the team will visit Barangays Buot-Taup, Bonbon, Pungol Sibugay, Babag, Malubog, Agsungot, Binaliw, Pulangbato and Budlaan.

A total of 59, 462 residents are targeted to benefit from the program by the end of the year.

The program is created, as the city recognizes the importance of OCCR documents in application for jobs, enrollment in schools, and in marriage.

To process these documents, applicants need to secure Affidavit Two Disinterested Persons, Affidavit of Consent, Affidavit of Acknowledgement, Affidavit of Legitimation and Affidavit to use the surname of the father. (FREEMAN)