The Iloilo City Government, through the City Civil Registry Office (CCRO), is aggressively scaling up its Mobile Registration initiative to ensure that every Ilonggo is properly documented. This program brings essential civil registry services directly to barangays, targeting residents who cannot visit City Hall, including the elderly, bedridden individuals, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and busy members of the general public.
The mobile caravan is an adoption and expansion of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) Birth Registration Assistance Project (BRAP). According to Marivel Gargalicana, Registration Officer IV, the goal is for all Ilonggos to be registered. She emphasized that the service is made easy and accessible, with staff going house-to-house and visiting barangays. Residents are encouraged to avail themselves of the service by coordinating with the office and complying with minimum requirements.
To ease financial burden, the City Government has waived key registration fees during BRAP implementation, including a Late Registration Fee of PHP 200, Security Paper (SECPA) Fee of PHP 155, and Notary Public Fees. Except for requests for a Certified True Copy (CTC), all major civil registry services are offered absolutely free. These include Free Birth Registration, Legitimation, Acknowledgment, Supplemental Report, and Correction of Entries.
The CCRO has also partnered with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), allowing residents to process their National ID applications on-site. Gargalicana noted that the program has been very successful and beneficial, with many barangays expressing gratitude. Without this initiative, many cases would not be catered to.
In 2025, the mobile registration caravan visited 68 barangays and served 1,507 clients. From January to May 2026, an additional 16 barangays were covered, benefiting 977 more Ilonggos. Operations have successfully cleared all barangays under the districts of Lapuz, La Paz, Arevalo, and the City Proper.
Gargalicana explained that many residents request a return visit to their barangay, but the office aims to finish all barangays before revisiting. The mobile registry is coupled with an aggressive information drive using Information, Education, and Communication materials to educate the public on the importance of legal identification. She stressed that without a birth certificate, a person is invisible to the government and cannot access privileges and benefits such as education, marriage, employment, travel, inheritance, and medical benefits. Civil documents, especially the birth certificate, are crucial from the beginning to the end of life.
The Iloilo City Government urged remaining barangay councils and residents to coordinate with the CCRO to schedule mobile registration tracks in their respective areas.
