[GUIDE] How to get birth certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA, formerly NSO) Central Outlet in Sta. Mesa, Manila

Following its latest incarnation as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the formerly National Statistics Office (NSO) has since moved from its main office along East Avenue in Quezon City to its new location in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

For those who have at one point or another transacted with the old NSO in East Avenue, you'd probably recall the chaotic process and even more chaotic environment that greeted you each time you had to secure a copy of either a birth certificate or death certificate or marriage certificate or a CENOMAR. At the gates, the East Avenue headquarters was brimming with ambulant vendors selling all sorts of wares -- from pens to envelopes to adobo with rice. Inside, long queues stretching for hours was the norm. It was bureaucratic red tape at its most livid.

So with the change in name and location, have things turned for the better?

HOW TO GO TO PSA CENTRAL OUTLET IN STA.MESA

The easiest way to go to PSA Central Outlet in Sta. Mesa is to take the LRT 2 Purple Line. From Pureza Station, the PSA is a 3-minute walk past a few popular fast food joints such as Jollibee and KFC along R. Magsaysay Boulevard. It is housed in a building called Solicarel Building 1. Getting there is a no-brainer because more likely than not, you will be walking along several other people going in the same direction. You know you are inching closer when you start to walk past vendors selling pens and envelopes and you are able to spot the De Ocampo Memorial College. If all else fails, ask.

To be honest, the new PSA Central Outlet in Sta. Mesa is a tad better than the claustrophobic one in East Avenue. That being said, the new office still looks grimy and worn-down and has obviously seen better days. It does not help that the new location is right smack in the middle of a noisy, polluted, stinky, and congested area filled with vagrants and honking jeepneys. Be ready for the sight of abject poverty.

Supreme Court of the Philippines tells sellers in Lazada, Shopee to stop selling items with the court's seal, insignia

Some sellers on Lazada and Shopee have apparently been selling products that bear the seal and insignia of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines, prompting the SC to issue A.M. No. 21-06-07-SC, which now bars anyone from the unauthorized selling of said products.

Issued on June 15, 2021, the Administrative Matter notes that there is danger in selling these products without the SC's authorization, as these merchandises bearing the Court's seal or insignia "[may] be wrongly used by individuals or entities who can easily access and buy [the same] from online selling platforms and use such merchandise[s] x x x for their own unscrupulous purposes."

As such, Lazada and Shopee sellers with these kind of products are instructed to "immediately cease and desist from producing, selling, or distributing the above-stated items, or be held accountable for indirect contempt of court." 

A full copy of A.M. No. 21-06-07-SC may be found here.

How to go to the Supreme Court of the Philippines in Padre Faura, Manila | Commuting Guide

Established in 1901, the Supreme Court (SC) is the highest judicial institution in the Philippines. It is considered the final arbiter of legal issues in the country as its decisions spell the ultimate resolution of disputes and cannot be appealed any further.

As with other political and cultural institutions in the Philippines, the SC is located in the capital Manila. Situated along the busy Padre Faura Street, the SC Main Building is located right in the heart of Manila, dotted by universities, hospitals, malls, and busy roads.

The Supreme Court is a collegial body with fifteen members -- one Chief Justice and fourteen Associate Justices. These are sometimes referred to as the "gods of Padre Faura."

If you are looking to visit the Supreme Court anytime soon, here are some public transportation options for you to take:

Securing government-issued documents at zero cost: A primer on the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act

For many people taking a crack at the job market for the first time, the entire affair can be a little daunting. 

For one, jobs that pay handsomely are few and far between, especially for those seeking jobs for the first time. Two, the lack of professional experience is a liability, particularly when you are fighting for a position with other applicants who have had quite extensive work experience themselves. And third, the waiting time for that call the HR officer promised you after the final interview can sometimes last an eternity.

The moment you do get a job offer, though, you are basically provided with a laundry list of documentary requirements for your 201 File. Obtaining these documents can cost a fortune, putting a dent on your finances even before you get paid your first salary.

Indeed, the desire to land a well-paying job in an industry you are emotionally invested in screeches to a grounding halt the moment you are confronted by the grim realities of modern-day job-hunting.

To address this concern, R.A. No. 11261, or the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, was signed into law in 2019. The law waives government fees and charges in the issuance of documents required in the application for employment of first time jobseekers. This is consistent with the state policy of promoting full employment and equality of gainful work and opportunities for all Filipinos.

Having this law eliminates one major hurdle for first time jobseekers as they no longer need to worry about shelling out money for their documentary requirements at a time they need it the most.

So what does this law have in store for first time jobseekers and who exactly stand to benefit from it?