BACOLOD City – The city government has encouraged all barangays here to conduct mass weddings to make the process more accessible and hassle-free for residents.
The initiative follows Barangay Tangub’s mass wedding held on August 16, where 25 couples officially tied the knot. The ceremony, which featured a garden wedding theme, took place at the grounds of Rodolfo Medel Elementary School and was officiated by Mayor Greg Gasataya.
The mayor lauded Tangub’s efforts and urged other barangays to replicate the program.
“This makes it more accessible for couples and allows more unwed residents to avail themselves of the service,” he said.
City Civil Registrar Atty. Hermilo Pa-oyon, who also attended the event, emphasized that couples joining barangay-based mass weddings enjoy free processing of their marriage licenses, courtesy of the city government. He added that holding the ceremonies at the barangay level helps decongest the Bacolod City Government Center, which usually hosts such events.
The conduct of mass weddings in Bacolod is institutionalized under City Ordinance No. 08-15-740, series of 2015, or the Bacolod City Mass Wedding Ordinance. The measure provides free services to couples who wish to formalize their union. The activity also forms part of the nationwide celebration of Philippine Civil Registration Month every February, highlighted by the annual “Kasalan ng Bayan.”
Barangay Tangub Captain Noli Villarosa said the program has been sustained under his administration, with this year’s event being the second consecutive mass wedding in the village. Each couple received cakes, wine, and a simple reception from the barangay.
Villarosa added that while many couples expressed interest in joining, the number of participants was limited due to venue capacity.
Meanwhile, Pa-oyon reminded newlyweds to carefully review the details in their marriage certificates to avoid future corrections./PN
