LGU Tacurong issues civil registry documents in security paper

In a bid to simplify procedures in civil registration, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong started issuing civil registry documents in Security Paper (SECPA).

In a simple launching ceremony at the city hall on March 10, City Mayor Lina Montilla, National Statistics Office (NSO) 12 Regional Director Maqtahar Manulon, NSO Provincial Director Rafael Sambrano, and City Civil Registrar Josephine Balino unveiled bundles of security papers in front of the anticipating crowd.

Aside from the LGU officials and employees, officials of the Department of Education-City Schools Division headed by OIC Superintendent Romelito Flores were present during the launching.

National line agencies such as the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Social Security System (SSS) also sent representatives to witness the event. Alma Labrador, president of Sultan Kudarat Civil Registrars Association was also present.

With the SECPA implementation, Tacurong’s Civil Registry Office is authorized to print vital documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates in security papers.

In her message, Mayor Montilla said that the launching of the SECPA program is an offshoot of the LGU’s desire to shorten the service time in issuing civil registry documents.

“Our constituents need not also spend huge amount of money in going to NSO General Santos and idly wait in long queues waiting for the issuance of their registry documents in SECPA”, Mayor Montilla said.

The mayor also dubbed the SECPA program as “Project Lily” in honor of former City Civil Registrar Iglesia ‘Lily’ Madrigal who worked it out before she retired from government service. Madrigal was not able to witness the realization of the project she initiated as she succumbed to an illness and died last year.

Director Manulon lauded the city government for another notable accomplishment. He said that through the SECPA program, the volume of work in the NSO is made available to the LGU and thus the services are easily accessible to the public.

Meanwhile, representatives of the agencies who were present during the launching signified their support to the SECPA program of Tacurong saying that they will recognize the locally-issued civil registry documents their clients will submit.

Civil Registrar Balino informed the public that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), despite not having a representative to witness the launching, will accept civil registry documents in security paper issued by the LGU. She added that her office is still waiting for the same commitment from the Philippine Regulations Commission (PRC).

The SECPA launching was realized after a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed late last year among the participating agencies including LGU Tacurong City, NSO (currently the Philippine Statistics Authority), Philippine Association of Philippine Civil Registrars, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that prints the security paper. (AS Freno/LGU Tacurong City Information)