This article explains the legal framework, standards of proof, and practical procedures for obtaining a Barangay Certificate of Indigency (BCI) even if you have not transferred voter registration or civil residency to your current address. It is general information, not legal advice. Local rules vary—always follow your barangay’s posted requirements.

I. What the Certificate Is—and Isn’t

Barangay Certificate of Indigency (BCI) is an attestation issued by the Punong Barangay (or authorized official) that a person or family is indigent based on community knowledge and/or proof presented. It is commonly required for:

DSWD AICS medical/burial/education assistance
Hospital “MSWD/Social Service” endorsements or discounts
Scholarships, school fee waivers, and NGO aid
Court fee exemption applications, and other humanitarian programs

It is not the same as:

A Barangay Clearance (character/record check for employment or permits)
A Certificate of Residency (attestation of where you live)
A Voter’s certification (COMELEC record) or CENOMAR/PSA documents

II. Legal and Administrative Basis

Local Government Code of 1991 (LGC) gives barangays power to issue certifications and regulate fees for services.
Barangay administrative authority: The barangay may adopt reasonable documentary requirements to satisfy itself of your identity, actual residence, and indigency.
Social Protection Programs (e.g., LGU/DSWD assistance) typically list a BCI as a supporting document, but each program’s guidelines control what they will accept.
Fee policies and exemptions: Barangays may collect modest fees for certificates. Seniors and PWDs are widely granted fee waivers under national laws and local ordinances.
Data Privacy: You may be asked for personal data (income, family composition). Barangays should keep only what is necessary.

Key takeaway: There is no national law that forces you to transfer voter registration or civil registry just to get a BCI. What matters is proof of actual indigency and actual residence in the issuing barangay, or credible attestation if you live elsewhere but remain part of the issuing barangay’s community.

III. The “No Transfer of Residency” Issue—What Counts as Residency?

Two common situations:

You physically live in Barangay A but your voter’s registration and IDs still show Barangay B.
- Most barangays treat de facto residence (actual place where you live) as sufficient for issuing a BCI—even if you have not transferred your voter registration—so long as you can prove you actually live in Barangay A.
You live intermittently or temporarily outside your “home” barangay, but that barangay still recognizes you as part of its community (e.g., you’re a student/worker/tenant elsewhere).
- Your home barangay (B) may still issue a BCI based on longstanding knowledge of your family’s indigency, especially if the aid is intended for your family/household there.

Bottom line: You typically have two paths without formally transferring residency:

Get the BCI from your current, actual place of stay, by proving you reside there now; or
Get it from your home barangay, by proving continuing ties and indigency there.

IV. Evidence You Can Use (Choose What You Have)

To avoid transferring residency, focus on proving identity, residence, and indigency by alternative means:

A. Identity

Any government ID (even if address differs)
PSA birth certificate (if no ID)
School ID (for students), company ID (for workers)

B. Actual Residence (if applying where you currently stay)

Lease/boarding house contract or landlord’s note with contact number
Utility bill or barangay census listing bearing your or your family’s name
Notarized Affidavit of Residency (sample below)
Witnessing by purok/zone leader or neighbors

C. Indigency

Income proofs: payslips showing minimum/low wage; BIR 2316/1902; employer certification of income/“no income”
MSWDO/CSWDO quick assessment or Social Case Study summary (if already assessed)
Medical bills, prescriptions, tuition advisories, notices of disconnection, etc.
Affidavit of Indigency (sample below)

Tip: If you’re a student/tenant with no bills in your name, pair a landlord note or residency affidavit with a school certificate of enrollment.

V. Step-by-Step: Applying Where You Actually Live Now (No transfer of voter’s record)

Go to your barangay hall (Secretary’s window or Records).
State the purpose: “For DSWD assistance/hospital social service/scholarship.”
Submit:
- ID (any)
- Proof of current address (see Section IV-B)
- Proof of indigency (see Section IV-C)
Fill out their form (some barangays ask for a family profile).
Oath or signature: Some will have you swear before the barangay secretary or captain.
Pay fee or request waiver (senior/PWD/student often free).
Processing: Same day to 3 working days is typical.
Claim and check: Name spelling, purpose line, and validity date.

If staff ask you to “transfer residency”: Politely explain you are not changing voter registration, but you actually reside in the barangay and can prove it; ask for the Barangay Certificate of Residency + Indigency based on actual residence.

VI. Step-by-Step: Applying in Your Home Barangay (While Staying Elsewhere)

Contact your home barangay (phone/Facebook page) to confirm requirements.
Submit remotely or through a representative (if allowed):
- Authorization letter and ID copies (yours + representative)
- Any supporting papers showing family residence and need (see Section IV-C)
If required, ask your current barangay for a Certificate of Residency to show where you are staying temporarily—this does not change your voter’s record.
Pay minimal fee (ask about fee waiver).
Receive the BCI; some barangays release via pickup by representative or courier.

When is the home-barangay route stronger?

Aid is intended for your family who lives there; or
The home barangay knows your family circumstances best and is willing to certify indigency despite your temporary stay elsewhere.

VII. Common Pain Points—and Practical Fixes

“You must transfer residency.”
- Response: “I’m applying based on actual residence (or family’s residence)**, not changing my voter record. Here are my proofs and an affidavit. May I request a Certificate of Residency plus Indigency for [purpose]?”
“Your ID shows a different address.”
- Fix: Present two of: lease/landlord’s note, school enrollment cert, employer letter with address, affidavit of residency, barangay census listing.
“We don’t issue to boarders.”
- Fix: Ask for the specific rule/ordinance. Offer purok leader attestation or conduct a home visit. Barangays may validate boarders if they actually live there.
“Indigency denied—insufficient proof.”
- Fix: Request a quick social welfare assessment from the MSWDO/CSWDO and submit the result, or attach income/no-income certification from employer or BIR.
Urgent hospital cases
- Present ER/hospital request and ask for expedited issuance. Social workers often coordinate directly with barangays.

VIII. Format of the Certificate (What to Check)

A typical BCI contains:

Full name, age, civil status
Stated address (current or home address, depending on application)
Statement that the person/family is indigent to the barangay’s knowledge
Purpose line (“For DSWD medical assistance,” etc.)
Date issued and validity (often 3–6 months; varies)
Signature of Punong Barangay/Secretary and dry seal
Official receipt number (if fee collected)

Pro tip: Ask them to spell out the exact purpose required by the receiving office, and to print your maiden/married name correctly to match hospital or school records.

IX. Fees, Waivers, and Validity

Fees: Usually minimal; may be waived for Senior Citizens and PWDs. Some LGUs also waive for students or humanitarian purposes.
Validity: Commonly 3 months but depends on the recipient agency; some will accept only documents issued within 30 days—always verify.

X. If the Barangay Still Refuses

Request written reason (note the ordinance, memo, or checklist they rely on).
Offer additional proofs or ask for a home visit.
Seek MSWDO/CSWDO assessment; some programs accept Social Case Study Reports in lieu of, or in addition to, a BCI.
Escalate politely: barangay captain, then LGU’s Mayor’s Office or City/Municipal Social Welfare Office for guidance.
For program-specific rules (scholarship, hospital, DSWD), ask the receiving agency whether a certificate from your home barangay or a residency+indigency combo from your current barangay will suffice.

XI. Templates You Can Use

A. Affidavit of Residency (Notarized) I, [Name], of legal age, Filipino, with ID No. [ID details], currently residing at [Complete Address, Barangay, City/Municipality, Province], after having been duly sworn, state:

I have actually resided at the above address since [Month Year].

I temporarily/seasonally work/study in this locality; my voter registration/civil records may still reflect [Old Address/Barangay].

I submit this Affidavit to support my request for a Barangay Certificate of Indigency/Residency for [specific purpose]. Affiant; Jurat/Notary block

B. Affidavit of Indigency (Notarized) I, [Name], of legal age, Filipino, residing at [Address], state that:

My monthly household income is approximately ₱[amount] derived from [source];

I have [number] dependents;

I have no significant assets/savings and currently face [medical/education/etc.] expenses;

I am requesting assistance from [agency] which requires a Certificate of Indigency. Affiant; Jurat/Notary block

C. Authorization Letter (If sending a representative) Date: [date] I, [Name], authorize [Representative’s Name] to apply for and claim my Barangay Certificate of Indigency. Attached are our IDs. Signature of Authorizer and Representative

XII. Special Cases

Minors/Students: Parent/guardian applies; bring school certificate and family profile.
Solo Parents: Bring Solo Parent ID or certificate; strengthens indigency claim.
PWD/Senior Citizen: Present ID for fee waiver and priority processing.
Boarders/Bedspacers: Provide landlord note and purok leader attestation.
Informal Settlers/No IDs: Request MSWDO assessment; barangay can validate via home visit and neighbor attestations.
OFW families seeking aid for dependents: The home barangay can usually issue the BCI for the family left behind.

XIII. Quick Checklist (Print-Friendly)

Government ID (any) or PSA birth cert
Proof of where you live now (lease/landlord note/utility or affidavit)
Proof of indigency (income/no-income cert, bills, medical docs)
Exact purpose (DSWD, hospital, scholarship, etc.)
Authorization letter + IDs (if through a representative)
Small cash for fees (or PWD/Senior waiver)
Ask for purpose-specific wording and validity window

XIV. Key Takeaways

You do not need to transfer voter registration just to secure a BCI.
You can apply where you actually live now, or in your home barangay, depending on purpose and available proofs.
Strengthen your application with residency proof + indigency proof; use affidavits and purok attestations if you lack formal bills.
For refusals, seek MSWDO assistance or verify the receiving agency’s acceptable alternatives.

If you want, tell me your exact situation (student/tenant/hospital case, documents on hand), and I’ll tailor a step-by-step pack you can bring to the barangay window.