Press Release
January 7, 2014

To help Yolanda victims in reconstructing personal records, etc
NANCY URGES NSO TO WAIVE FEES FOR CENSUS SERVICES

Sen. Nancy Binay today urged the National Statistics Office (NSO) to waive all government fees for census services as a way to help those who survived typhoon Yolanda rebuild their lives.

In a letter to NSO Administrator Carmelita Ericta, Binay said that waiving the fees for services such as requests for copies and certifications of birth, marriage and death documents "would help our countrymen to easily secure important personal records that are needed to establish not only for purposes of identification but likewise in other legal requirements in applying for multi-purpose loans, claiming insurance, and the like".

Based on reports, there are approximately 12 million people affected by "Yolanda", with at least 5,924 reported dead, and about 1,779 still missing.

She added that the waiving of fees "is a concrete serviceable support as we try to help our countrymen rebuild and bring a sense of normalcy to their lives."

"People are slowly picking up the pieces and having their identity papers at hand would lead to the restoration of their dignity and well-being," Binay said.

Binay also requested the NSO to set up online "mobile centers" that would cater to those in far-flung and inaccessible locations, or in municipalities/cities whose functions still remain incapacitated.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has already waived passport renewal requirements for Yolanda survivors who lost their passports.

The lady solon added that such services from national government agencies (NGAs) would help allay fears that NGAs are slow in delivering services to cities and municipalities devastated by Yolanda.

The NSO is mandated by law to keep and preserve the birth, marriage and death certificates of a Filipino citizen. These certificates are the bases for establishing the legal status of each and every Filipino.

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