Regions
Waive clearance fees, villages urged

BAGUIO CITY: Acting city mayor Faustino Olowan has ratified a City Council resolution requesting all concerned barangay (villages) in the Summer Capital to waive all fees in the issuance of barangay certifications or clearances pertaining to indigency and financial or medical assistance. The measure states that while many villages have exempted indigents from payment of certification fees in their barangay ordinances, there are still those that charge for the mentioned clearances. 'Waiving the certificate or clearance fees for indigency and medical or financial assistance would help constituents avail of the assistance they need,' the resolution states. One requirement to avail of government benefits such as financial or medical assistance is a barangay clearance, which certifies that a concerned resident is among the indigent constituents there and is in need of either medical or financial assistance, or to prove that he/she is part of the indigent community. The measure also states that when a constituent goes to the barangay and applies for the certification, the latter acknowledges and certifies to its conditions upon issuance of the clearance.