NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 73
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72 JUL-7 P2:03
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Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III
AN ACT EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF THE AUTHORITY 
TO SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGE ISSUED TO PRIESTS, 
MINISTERS OR RABBIS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
ARTICLE 95 OF THE CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6514 AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The authority of solemnizing officers to solemnize marriage is 
found in Article 7(2), Chapter 1, Title I of the Family Code of the 
Philippines. Included in the enumeration of solemnizing officers are 
“Any priest, rabbi, imam, or minister of any 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.”
This authority of the solemnizing officer is one of the formal 
requisites of marriage and absent such will render the marriage void ab


initio. Under Section 1 of Republic Act No. 65141, the “authorization 
to solemnize marriages shall be valid for a period of three years.” 
Considering that these priests, rabbis, imams, and ministers devote 
most of their time to worship and participating in activities of their 
church or religious sect, this bill seeks to lengthen the validity of their 
authority to solemnize marriage to five years in order to give them more 
time and opportunity to render such service and at the same time reduce 
the costs related to the processing of the renewal of their authority.
Therefore, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
AQUILINO uKOKO” PIMENTEL III
1 An Act that the Authorization to Solemnize Marriage Issued to Priests, or Ministers or Rabbis shall be Valid for 
a Period of Three Years, the Same to Expire on the Thirty-first Day of December of Every Third Year, Amending 
for the Purpose Article Ninety-Five of the Civil Code of the Philippines and for other Purposes. Approved On July 
22, 1972.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 73
K!;| ^rnntf
t(«jr
72 JUL-7 P2 *03
Introduced by Senator Aquilino uKoko” Pimentel III
AN ACT EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF THE AUTHORITY 
TO SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGE ISSUED TO PRIESTS, 
MINISTERS OR RABBIS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
ARTICLE 95 OF THE CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6514 AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Article 95 of the Civil Code of the Philippines or
2 
Republic Act No. 386, as amended by Republic Act No. 6514, is
3 
hereby further amended to read as follows:
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UART. 95. The public official in charge of
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registration of priests, ministers or rabbis with the
7 
approval of the proper head of department, is hereby
8 
authorized to prepare the necessary forms and to
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promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of
10 
enforcing the provisions of this Title; Provided, That
11 
the authorization to solemnize marriages shall be valid
12 
for a period of [three] FIVE years, shall expire on the
13 
thirty-first day of December of every [third] FIFTH
14 
year, and shall be renewable within the said month of


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December; Provided, further^ 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 thirty-first day of 
December of the year when this amendatory Act takes 
effect, any regulation to the contrary notwithstanding]
ITS ORIGINAL EXPIRATION DATE; Provided, 
finally. That the words ”my authority to solemnize 
marriage expires on December 31, [19|20 ,M shall 
be indicated in all marriage contracts just below the 
title of the person so authorized to solemnize 
marriages.
Priest or ministers, or rabbis belonging to one 
diocese religious order or congregation, or sect, may 
apply for authorization, through their bishop, head of 
religious order or congregation chief of ministers, or 
duly authorized representative.
The public official who is charge of registration 
may also by regulation fix and collect fees for the 
authorization to solemnize marriage.”
SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,