Talisay lacks civil registrar

CEBU, Philippines - When will Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez appoint someone as city civil registrar head, opposition City Councilor Romeo C. Villarante wants to know.

Villarante, assistant chairman of the Committee on Laws and a lawyer by profession, pointed out that since Nov 2011, the NSO has disapproved all petitions for the correction of names/clerical errors due to the “non qualification” of acting city civil registrar Emely Cabrera, who until now could not discharge the functions of her office.

Villarante, in his proposed resolution, has asked Fernandez to appoint someone “qualified for the position.”

“The vacancy of the position in the civil registrar’s office causes extreme delay in correcting entries in birth certificates, needed for travel, board examinations, and other purposes,” Villarante said.

According to Villarante, the matter was already raised last May but the administration has failed to act on it. 

“This matter was previously raised in the city council, yet the problem still persists,” he said. 

Cabrera, then Human Resource Officer, was installed as acting city registrar June last year following Atty. Gemma Ladion’s resignation, via Fernandez’s appointment and with the council’s approval.

The duty of the city civil registrar is authorized under Republic Act No. 9048, entitled “An Act Authorizing The City Or Municipal Civil Registrar Or The Consul General To Correct A Clerical Or Typographical Error And/Or Change of First Name Or Nickname In The Civil Register Without Need Of A Judicial Order, Amending For This Purpose Articles 376 and 412 of The Civil Code of the Philippines.”

Recently, President Simeon Benigno Aquino III signed into law, Republic Act No. 10172, which amended several provisions of Republic Act 9048, and extended the coverage of administrative corrections of birth certificates; and under the new law, the city or municipal registrar may correct clerical errors or typographical errors in the day and month of date of birth or gender without a court order. 

But Villarante said problems will arise if there is no duly approved appointed city civil registrar. 

Cabrera’s appointment is still, however, pending in the CSC national office after Febritt Cabañero, Ladion’s second in command, petitioned the agency, saying she is qualified for the position.

“Under the CSC law, there is no more qualified on the ground of giving appointment to a particular position. CSC needs only minimum requirements, if you’ve met these requirements, then you are qualified,” Cabrera said.

Cabrera said she has worked with the city government, or since Talisay was still a municipality in 1991, which means she has the qualification.

She said although her appointment has not yet been concurred, her task as acting registrar has already been recognized since she assumed the post last year. (FREEMAN)