Says a recent Philippine Star editorial, “this is a
problem that afflicts the very poor who can’t afford to deliver the babies in
a hospital and who consider it too much trouble to register a child’s birth in
the city or town hall”.
Despite the ban in many cities and towns in various parts of the country, there are still countless incidents of births taking place at home.
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| Rappler.com photo |
The editorial went further saying that if this is the case, the government must do something by reaching out to these people and bring this service wherever they are.
Without a birth
certificate, technically we don’t exist.
And if we don’t exist how can we expect the government to provide us
with basic services such as free public education and health care. Getting a job here and abroad will be almost
impossible if we don’t have one.
As an advocate
of the empowerment of the barangays, I find the position of the popular broadsheet to be in
agreement with what I think is the right approach to address the issue. However, I disagree with the paper's statement “this is where the barangay personnel can
make themselves useful”. As if the barangay officials are not that useful
in this respect.
Being on the ground, barangay officials are the most capable in reaching out to the people, even if they’re in the remotest of areas. They know their
communities well, they keep track of what’s going on with their constituents,
who gave birth, who died and who got married.
Having served in a barangay as adviser and volunteer officer for several years, I know this
to be true.
In fact, when it
comes to fulfilling the functions of the civil registrar, the barangay is even empowered by law to help out in recording and reporting births, deaths and
marriages. These are included in the
provisions of Section 394 of the Local Government Code.
Not only in
civil registration matters that the barangay is needed to keep records. Section 394 also requires the barangays to keep a database of all their residents, their full names, exact addresses, place and date of births,
gender, civil status, citizenship and other important information. In addition, their contact numbers or email addresses should also be included in
the records.
A localized
census of the actual number of residents in a barangay may also be required by
the Sangguniang Barangay from time to time and could be very useful for planning and budget preparations.
I find maintaining
records to be very helpful also in addressing many other problems and concerns in a barangay,
like issuing permits and clearances, certifications and maintaining peace and
order.
Other 'invisible" barangay people
Can you imagine what would a barangay be like when it fails to account for people who happen to be convicted murderers or rapists or pushers from other places, but are now living in your barangay? |
| dreamstime.com photo |
With the availability of computers and its prices becoming even more cheaper, this should not be happening any more. it's easier and faster now to keep records of all information needed in a barangay.
With computers, setting up and managing a computerized barangay records management system is not that difficult today. Almost every barangay can now afford to have it. A computer, even the older version, has a built-in operating system in it that can automate record-keeping even in a poor barangay.
Does your barangay still keep its records in rusty filing cabinets and issue clearances with old dilapidated typewriters? If it does, start praying and hope that in the next three years, your community will be able to find a better replacement for your "old school" barangay officials.
