THE Local Civil Registrar’s Office (LCR) is awaiting funding to begin its digitalization project, which aims to modernize civil registry processes.
Orlando Alvaira, head of the court decrees and clerical error law division at LCR, said they need P12,860,652 to start the initiative. Once the budget is approved, the office can immediately begin digitalizing its records.
“Mao na lang na among ginahulat na matagaan na og funding ang project (This is the only thing we’re waiting for—the funding for the project),” Alvaira said during the ISpeak Media Forum on January 30, 2025, at the City Mayor’s Office.
Aside from the budget, the LCR is also waiting for the City Information Technology Center (CITC) to develop the system. Alvaira said that once funds are available, the CITC will begin working on the digital platform.
The new system will allow the public to track the status of their documents online. With strict data privacy measures, only those who requested the documents will be granted access.
Alvaira also noted that future improvements will include online payments, allowing people to file requests digitally and making it easier to track progress and receive feedback. To support the project, the LCR plans to hire 10 personnel to scan millions of documents for digitization.
On December 12, 2024, the 20th City Council approved an ordinance on third and final reading to implement the Civil Registration Information System (Cris) online.
Proposed by Councilor Bonz Andre A. Militar, chairperson of the Committee on Information Technology, the ordinance aims to streamline civil registry processes.
Cris will integrate document processing with partner institutions, assign unique registry numbers, and prevent duplication.
A committee report highlighted major challenges in preserving civil registry records, especially those damaged in a fire at the LCR.
The backlog includes civil registry records dating back to 1945, with more than 1.35 million birth certificates from 1963 to 1989, 624,000 marriage certificates from 1945 to 2022, 702,000 death certificates from the same period, and 27.8 million LICD attachments up to 2024 that still need to be scanned and digitized. Once completed, the digitalization project is expected to significantly improve efficiency and accessibility for the public. RGP