Couples encouraged to join mass wedding

BAGUIO CITY  –  The city government here will sponsor the mass wedding this September 29 at the Baguio Convention Center, thus, young couples, live-in partners with children are encouraged to join the said event.
The mass wedding is an institutionalized activity of the city government through the City Social Welfare and Development Office during the month-long city’s celebration of family week in September.
City social welfare officer Betty Fangasan emphasized, aside from being an institutionalized event of the city’s family week celebration, is also part of the social responsibility of the city government to its constituents.
Interested couples aging more than 25 years old and who have lived-in for more than five years are required to secure community tax certification (CEDULA) at the treasury office.  Together with the birth certificates, the couple must also secure certificate on no marriage (CENOMAR) from the national statistics office. They must secure Affidavit of Cohabitation for the public attorney’s office (PAO) or any legal officer.
While applicants securing a marriage license at the local civil registra’s office  must first obtain certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) from the NSO, attend pre-marriage counselling (PMC0 at the health service office which is scheduled every Tuesday from 1PM  to 5PM and every Thursday from 8 AM to 12 noon.
Said marriage license or affidavit of cohabitation must be submitted at the CSWDO not later that Sept. 8.
Couples aging 18 to 20 needs parents’ consent while couples aging 21 to 24 needs parents’ advice.
They are also required to attend Marriage Enrichment Seminar on Sept. 16 at the Baguio city multi-purpose hall.
“We want to help couples who are living together without the benefits of legalizing their partnership considering the expenses in needed in the preparation of wedding.  Because of this, the city government is providing them opportunity to legalize their relationship as husband and wife without spending too much,” said Fangasan.