BONTOC, Mountain Province – A total of 531 Persons with Disability (PWDs) received copies of civil registry documents for free which were issued and delivered at their doorsteps by the employees of the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Municipal Civil Registrar Office (MCRO).
The documents issued and delivered for free are local birth and marriage certificates.
According to Municipal Civil Registrar Valentina Domaoa, in celebration of Civil Registration Month, staff from the MCRO have been going around the 16 barangays for the whole month of February to ensure intended recipients are covered.
She added that their office coordinated with the Municipal Disability Affairs Office (MDAO) of the list of PWDs. With the list of PWDs from the MDAO, 21 were catered by the MCRO in Barangay Bayyo, 38 in Talubin, 29 in Can-eo, 41 in Tocucan, 17 in Mainit, 35 in Samoki, nine in Poblacion, 40 in Dalican, 59 in Maligcong, 21 in Gonogon, 22 in Alab Oriente, 15 in Balili, 25 in Alab Proper, and 23 in Guina-ang.
Domaoa said that the initiative aimed to ensure that PWDs in the municipality have access to their local birth, marriage, and death certificates without any financial burden.
Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., lauded the staff of the MCRO headed by Domaoa for recognizing and addressing the specific needs of vulnerable groups within the community.
He added that such initiative goes beyond the mere provision of documents; it sends a powerful message of empowerment, care, and solidarity to the PWDs.
“By delivering these essential documents to the doorsteps of the recipients, we not only made the process more convenient but have also ensured that PWDs have access to important records that are necessary for various transactions and legal purposes. This initiative has not only improved accessibility for PWDs but has also demonstrated the commitment of the LGU to inclusivity and support for marginalized sectors of society,” Mayor Tudlong remarked.
It is to be noted that the MCRO has also offered free issuance of civil registry documents to the residents of Bontoc in the whole month of February, of which they were advised to visit said office during scheduled dates allotted to barangays where they reside. By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay & Aprilyn P. Tudlong
