BAGUIO CITY – The culminating event of Family Month in September promises to be a momentous occasion as interested and qualified couples are encouraged to apply for the mass wedding.

The application process was discussed recently during a meeting of the Family Week steering committee, led by the Office of Social Welfare and Development.

According to a statement issued by the city information office, couples must have lived together or cohabitated for at least five years to be eligible, and both partners should be over the age of twenty-five.

The application process includes obtaining a community tax certificate from the city treasury office at the City Hall, securing a Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and acquiring a tree planting certificate from the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO).

Couples are required to submit their application at least two days before their preferred tree planting schedule, which is available on Mondays or Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:30 AM.

Seedlings for planting can be purchased from designated plant booths.

Couples in a live-in arrangement should obtain an affidavit of cohabitation, instead of a marriage license, from a legal officer.

For this program, applicants may seek assistance from the offices of Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, Councilors Betty Lourdes Tabanda, and Elmer Datuin.

For those wishing to participate in the mass wedding, a marriage license from the Local Civil Registrar’s Office (LCR), a CENOMAR from the PSA, and a pre-marriage counseling session at the Health Services Office (HSO) along T. Alonzo Street are required.

Applicants aged 18 to 20 must have parental consent, while those aged 21 to 24 require parental advice.

All applicants, regardless of the type of relationship documentation they possess, must attend Marriage Enrichment Counseling on September 20, 2023, and the wedding ceremony on September 28.

The wedding venue is yet to be determined.

The marriage license or affidavit of cohabitation should be submitted to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) located at Upper Session Road no later than September 8, 2023.

Inquiries can be made at the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) or any of its unit offices.

The meeting, which was presided over by Social Worker Jeterda Junio, included representatives from various concerned offices, such as the Federation of Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (FBCPC), Federation of Baguio Senior Citizens Association (FBASECA), Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI), Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), Community Affairs, Special Services Division, Public Information Office (PIO), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Baguio City Police Office (BCPO).

Representatives from the office of Councilor and Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president Michael L. Lawana, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, and Balikatan sa Kaunlaran were also present.

Councilors Elmer O. Datuin and Lilia A. Farinas are committee members as well.

For couples seeking to celebrate their commitment in a meaningful and communal way, this mass wedding presents a wonderful opportunity to participate in a joyous occasion and commemorate the importance of family bonds.