By Celeste Anna R. Formoso
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Nov. 24 (PNA) — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) or provincial board has asked the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the municipal registrars of two towns in southern Palawan to clarify issues concerning the registration of marriages of indigenous peoples (IPs).
The SP, according to the Provincial Information Office (PIO), called the PSA and the municipal registrars of the towns of Aborlan and Narra to clarify issues that the marriage certificates of IPs are not being recognized.
Called in during the Question and Answer, said the PIO, were Benjamin Quintero of the PSA, Antonio Cervancia of the Municipal Civil Registrar of Narra, and Nellie Mauricio of the same office of Aborlan.
The PIO explained they were called following the privilege speech of ex-officio Board Member Noel Jagmis, representatives of the IPs in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, who stated that the NSO and the local civil registrars of the said municipalities apparently do not recognize IP marriages.
Mauricio of Aborlan denied the issue saying they recognize the authority of the chieftains and leaders of the IPs, who officiate marriages. However, before they accept any document, they inspect them thoroughly.
She said that any marriage they officiate needs authority from the NSO, and they make sure that all information in the documents is true and valid.
Quintero also said they support the IPs and their traditional wedding practices, but there is a process that must be followed.
He assured that they will perform everything to ensure that rights of the IPs are not violated, and that they are given the proper services they deserve.
The PIO added that Board Member Leoncio Ola suggested too, that a seminar be held for the chieftains and leaders of the IPs on what documents are needed to be able to solemnize the IP marriages.
Ola reportedly emphasized that there are policies and procedures to follow, and IP chieftains and leaders must adhere to them to ensure that the IP marriages they conduct are valid.
Jagmis agreed to this, and said that a seminar has to be conducted to further clarify them on their roles in officiating IP marriages. (PNA)