68 Couples Wed In Civil Rites

68 Couples Wed In Civil Rites

In celebration of this year’s Civil Registration Month, the Municipality of Ibajay, in partnership with the Philippine Statistics Authority-Aklan, will hold a civil mass wedding inside the Ibajay Sports Complex on February 17, 2015.

About 68 couples coming from different barangays of the municipality will exchange “I do’s” during the civil wedding ceremony to be solemnized by Mayor Ma. Lourdes Miraflores. 

According to Mr. Elizer Sevilla, head of the local civil registry office of Ibajay, the said mass wedding is for indigent unwed couples to legalize their union as husbands and wives and subsequently their children to be legitimized.

On the other hand, Statistician Rodelyn Panadero, Officer-in-charge of the PSA-Aklan, said that the mass wedding will be a big help to lessen the number of couples who are in common-law relationship.

According to her and based on the 2010 census data, out of 21,236 persons who are living together in Aklan, more than 7 percent or 1,511 are in Ibajay. Those who practice live-in are mostly in 25-29 years old with 24.16 percent, followed by 20-24 years old with 24.02 percent and 30-34 years with 12.17.

“There are even 9 percent who are teenagers that practice common-law relationship in Ibajay. That’s why this free mass wedding is a big help to promote the welfare of their families and their children as well,” Mrs. Panadero said.

As words of advice, Mayor Miraflores encourages couples to become responsible parents to their children and remain faithful to their partners for better and for worst. She likewise stressed the importance of marriage as a foundation family. /MP