The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has launched an online service allowing Filipinos to view birth, marriage, and death certificates, among other documents — but reactions quickly turned sour after users learned the feature comes with a price.
This was after the PSA announced that the feature makes it hassle-free for those who do not want to travel to any of its offices.
Filipinos can request viewable online copies of PSA certificates — birth, marriage, death, Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR), and Certificate of No Death (CENODEATH) — valid for 60 days on their website with an access code.
The catch for this supposedly convenient service? It’s a pay-to-view.
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates can be viewed online for P130, while CENOMAR and CENODEATH certificates can be viewed for P185.
- The fees are inclusive of processing and government taxes, including P30 Documentary Stamp Tax per copy issued.
And process is not necessarily online. The PSA stated that payments can be made in person by the document owner at any PSA Civil Registry System outlet without having to book an appointment.
For death certificates, the nearest of kin of the deceased person is qualified to pay.
The agency said viewable online requests not paid at a PSA outlet—either paid online or through other payment channels—will not be processed.
RELATED: Filipinos can now view birth, marriage, death certificates online. Here’s how.
‘May bayad pala’
While the PSA said the initiative aims to improve convenience, many Filipinos expressed frustration over the charges.
“May bayad pala. ‘Di ba pwedeng ilibre na lang, pakonswelo niyo na lang sa taong bayan na ninanakawan taon-taon ng mga nasa posisyon,” a Facebook user commented.
“Bayad muna bago view. Lugi, no proof of record, nag-check lang naman kung may record na. Sayang P130,” another user wrote.
“View na lang nga, may bayad pa rin, pambihira. Edi kukuha ka [na lang] ng copy mismo,” commented a different Pinoy.
Others questioned the value of paying P130 for a document viewable only for two months, arguing it would be more practical to obtain a printed copy.
“Viewing for 60 days only for P130. [Diretso] hard copy na lang, mas magagastusan pa sa viewing, mostly [kasi] photocopy lang [naman] kailangan sa BC [birth certificate], then need lang ipakita original. Magagamit pa [nang] matagal,” said another user.
“View fee, wrong na wrong,” commented a different user with cross mark emojis. “Lagyan na lang ng watermarks kung gusto pagkaperahan ‘yung viewing session.”
Alternative option
The PSA said printed copies can still be obtained via its DocPrint service at any outlet for P80 per copy, with proof of an online viewing access code.
Both services fall under the Civil Registry System – Information Technology Project Phase II, which the PSA said is designed to modernize and speed up civil registration services. — with reports from Philstar.com/Kristofer Purnell
