MANILA, Philippines — The House ways and means committee approved on Monday a bill that would exempt indigenous peoples (IPs) from the payment of all fees for birth, marriage and death certificates at the Local Civil Registry Office and the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The panel approved the tax provision of the unnumbered substitute bill for House Bills No. 1332 and 2812, or “An Act Providing for a Free and Culture-Sensitive Civil Registration System for Indigenous Peoples.”
The consolidated bill would also exempt IPs from the payment of fees that other agencies charge for certain processes or documents for registration.
“They are likewise exempted from the payment of notarial fees and documentary stamp tax in cases where the recording of the birth, marriage or death requires the execution of affidavits or sworn statements and similar documents,” the bill stated.