I have always mixed reactions whenever I need to do anything with any government office. It's usually a mix of frustration, anger, confusion, and I always end up going through the different stages of grief.
Let's talk about the different legal ways the government is screwing us from our hard earned money. For one, why the heck do we always need a new copy of birth certificates? The info doesn't change, it's still the same security paper, just a different agency requesting for it.
I also already pay 32% income tax, 12 % vat on everything, tax on my imports, tax on my house, my land, whenever I travel etc. No wonder people are mad.
So getting a new copy of NSO certified papers should be an easy thing right? You can order copies from SM, LBC, travel agencies etc. You can also get it from ESensus service centers where you can get a copy in less than 2-3 hours.
So that's convenient right? You can get it right away. But there's a catch. Especially if you're getting it at the Pasig office. What's the catch? You have to get a Cedula. That's right. That little small paper that only exists to create money for the LGU. Why do you need one if you're only getting a birth certificate or death certificate? As per the employees "Yan ang process eh."
Please also take note that they do not provide pens for you to fill out the required forms with. You have to buy one. Take note, you have to buy a pen, from someone conveniently selling pens right at the door.
So they will make you fill out a form and ask you for your monthly salary. Nothing less, nothing more. The computation is salary x 1.35%~. Imagine you already pay 32% tax and now they're asking you to pay more because you need to transact with them. Hypothetically let's say you earn p100,000 per month. I don't earn that much per month but the lady at the counter looked at me like I was an alien. She said, Tama ba yan sinulat mo? Makes you think how much they are earning if they think my measly salary is large.
P100,000x1.35 %= p1350
P1350!!! Imagine that. They ask you to pay that much so you can get a birth certificate which you also have to pay for. Granted, most people earn 10,000-20,000 per month but imagine the burden this additional cost is for low wage earners? It's outrageous! That's an additional p200-300 for someone who is probably earning that much per day.
And get this, when I refused to pay that amount the lady behind the counter said Sige babaan na lng natin. Gawin natin p55,000 per month sweldo mo. Whaaaat? Pwede pala Un? But that's still p750, which in no way I will pay. So you say why not just put down a salary of 10k per month? I guess you could. They won't check. But we already have so much dishonesty in our country I can't get myself to do it. I'm raised that way.
So until we can get rid of the Cedula and close off any venues for corruption we'll have to put up with this system. Or, just prepare in advance and just go to SM service center or LBC.
