Lifetime validity of birth, death and marriage papers ‘won’t affect’ PSA’s income

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By : PHILIP A. CEROJANO, TITO P. TAN, SunStar Cebu

A MEASURE approved by the Senate which mandates a lifetime validity of birth, death and marriage certificates would not affect the income of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Senate Bill 2450, which was passed on third and final reading on Monday, May 23, still awaits approval by President Rodrigo Duterte before this would become a law.

The proposed law seeks the permanent validity of the certificates of live birth, death, and marriage issued, signed, certified or authenticated by the PSA and the local civil registries, as well as the reports of birth, death, and marriage registered and issued by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts.

Claire Coronado, PSA 7 spokesperson, said not covered by the bill is the certificate of no marriage (Cenomar), which expires every six months.

She clarified that PSA’s income won’t be affected by the proposed law, adding that clients will still need to get a new copy of their certificates of live birth, death and marriage from their office if they are required to submit or present the authenticated copy in their future transactions.

She said the PSA issues the authenticated or original copy of the certificates, and once the clients have run out of the original, they would still go to PSA to get one.

If the employer or agency accepts a photocopy of the certificate, there is no need for renewal, Coronado added, stressing that the birth, death or marriage certificates they issue have no expiration dates.

Most government agencies and other business establishments require their clients to submit original copies of birth, death and marriage certificates.

Coronado said if the bill is passed into law, it would address the long lines of people seen every day at PSA offices.