Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBi||No.9089
Introduced by Representative Marjorie Ann ``Maan" A. Teodoro
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This  bill  seeks  to  increase  the  validity  of authorization  of priests,  ministers  of the
gospel of any denomination, church, sect or religion, or rabbis to solemnize marriages from
three (3) years to five (5) years.
Marriage is a sacrament pertaining to the covenant built by a husband and a wife.
Under Executive Order No. 209 (EO No. 209) or the Ffl77tz.Jy Cocze o/ £fec Pfez.Jz.ppz.7tcs, Marriage is
defined as ``a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into
in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation
of the family and an iviolable social institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are
governed by law and not subject to stipulation, except that marriage settlements may fix the
property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by this Code". Given this,
EO No.  209 specifically states who are allowed to solemnize marriages in the Philippines,
which  includes  priests,  rabbis,  imams,  or  ministers  of  any  church  or  religious  sect  duly
authorized by his church or religious sect and registered with the civil registrar general, acting
within the limits of the written authority granted him by his church or religious sect and
provided that at least one of the contracting parties belongs to the solemnizing officer's church
or religious sect.
The `Authority to Solemnize Marriges' was further detailed in Republic Act No. 386
or the  a.z#7  CocZc o/ £77e Pfez.Jz.ppz.7ics by stating  the role of the public official in charge of their
registration, however, without specifying the number of years for priests, ministers, or rabbis
to  solemnize  marriages  in  their  church,  therefore,  Republic  Act  No.  6514  was  enacted  to
amend RA No. 386 to specifically state their validity of authorization to solemnize marriages.
However,  given  time  constraints  and  other  responsibilities  due  to  our  officiants,
validity of their authorization to solemnize marriages must be increased from 3 years to 5
years.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
"    HouseBi||No.9089
Introduced by Representative Marjorie Ann ``Maan" A. Teodoro
AN ACT
INCREASING THE VALIDITY 0F AUTHORIZATION OF PRIESTS, MINISTERS OR
RABBIS T0 SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGES FROM THREE (3) YEARS TO FIVE (5) YEARS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6514 AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives Of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION. 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 6514 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Article 95. The public official in charge of registration of priests, ministers OF THE
GOSPEL 0F ANY DENOMINATION, CHURCH, SECT OR RELIGION or rabbis
with the approval of the proper head of department, is hereby authorized to prepare
the  necessary  forms  and  to  promulgate  rules  and  regulations  for  the  purpose  of
enforcing  the provisions of this  Title:  P7'ozJz.czed,  That the  authorization to  solemnize
marriages shall be valid for a period of [three] FIVE years, shall expire on the thirty
first- day of December of every [third] FIFTH year, and shall be renewable within the
said  month  of  December:  Proz„.cZccZ,  ¢rffeer,  That  the  authorizations  to  solemnize
marriage issued prior to and valid on the date of the approval of this amendatory Act
shall continue to be valid until the thirsty-first of December of the year when this
amendatory Act takes effect, any regulation to the contrary notwithstanding: P7`oz;I.dccz,
f.7i¢Jly, That the words ``my authority to solemnize marriage expires on December 31,
[19]20_" shall be indicated in all marriage contracts just below the title of the person
so authorized to solemnize marriages."
XXX
BEFORE  THE  EXPIRATION  0F  THEIR  AUTHORIZATION  T0  SOLEMNIZE
MARRIAGE,      PRIESTS,      MINISTERS      0F      THE      GOSPEL      0F      ANY
DENOMINATION,   CHURCH,   SECT   0R   RELIGION,   OR   RABBIS   SHALL
UNDERGO A SEMINAR AS A PRE-REQUISITE TO THEIR REGISTRATION.''


SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, issuances, rules
and  regulations,  or  parts  thereof  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this  Act  are  hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional,
the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,