New fee imposed on certificates

Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez has recently issued a directive imposing a $10 fee on any revised birth and death certificates processed through the Department of Public Health to cover up expenses on documents.

The new rule was published at the Commonwealth Registry on Nov. 15 and is expected to be implemented starting February.

“The amendment fee for birth, fetal death and death certificates will be $10.00 (per amendment). We have not been charging any fees on these services before. But because new forms are being used every time an amendment is made, it is only fair that we charge for this service,” Villagomez said in his memorandum.

Birth and death certificates are actually issued by the local court. Each cost $10.00. The proceeds automatically go to the general coffers.

But if revisions are necessary to rectify false information, the Division of Public Health’s Office of Health Planning and Statistics takes charge of processing the document.

An estimated thousand-plus revised birth and death certificates combined are issued each year.