Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2795

Introduced by: Honorable George P. Arnaiz

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This bill seeks to expand the authority of the city or municipal
civil registrar or the consul general by including the correction of
clerical and typographical errors in the family name, date of birth or
sex of a person appearing in the civil register without necd of a
judicial order.

Republic Act No. 9048 was enacted for the purpose of amending
Articles 376 and 412 of the Civil Code of the Philippines. The law
authorizes the city and municipal civil registrars or consuls-general to
change or correct without judicial order, certain clerical or
typographical errors in the civil register. The law does not include,
however, other entries such as “SEX”, “DATE OF BIRTH” and “FAMILY
NAME” where typographical or clerical errors are likewise commonly
committed.

A simple “x” on the wrong line or entry causes grave or serious
problems on the registrant. For example, an application for marriage
license might be denied because the typist marked “x” on a wrong
gender. Likewise, a registrant whose date of birth was erroneously
entered encounters similar problems particularly in the processing of
papers for school enrollment, travel abroad or retirement benefits.

‘The inaccuracies of entries in the civil register remains a major
source of inconvenience and untold miseries suffered by individuals
who were not responsible for these errors. Requiring these individuals
to go to court for proper remedy exacerbates their sorry

In view of the foregoing, the approval of J

earnestly
recommended.

IRGE P. ARNAIZ


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

fteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2735

Introduced by: Honorable George P. Arnaiz

AN ACT

FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL CIVIL
REGISTRAR OR THE CONSUL GENERAL TO CORRECT CLERICAL
OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN THE FAMILY NAME, DATE OF
BIRTH OR SEX OF A PERSON APPEARING IN THE CIVIL
REGISTER WITHOUT NEED OF A JUDICIAL ORDER, AMENDING
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED NINETY FORTY
EIGHT.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress Assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9048 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Sec. 1, Authority to Correct Clerical or Typographical Error and
Change of First Name or Nickname. - No entry in a civil register
shall be changed or corrected without a judicial order, except for
clerical or typographical errors and change of first name or
nickname, FAMILY NAME, THE DAY AND MONTH IN THE DATE
OF BIRTH OR SEX OF A PERSON which can be corrected or
changed by the concerned city or municipal civil registrar or
consul general in accordance with the provision of this Act and
its implementing rules and regulations.”

SECTION 2. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9048 is likewise amended to
read as follows:

Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following
terms shall mean:

(1) 2006 5000 200 0

(2) “Clerical or typographical error” refers to a mistake
committed in the performance of clerical work in writing,
copying, transcribing or typing an entry in the civil register


that is harmless and innocuous, such as misspelled name or
misspelled place of birth, MISTAKE IN THE ENTRY OF DAY
AND MONTH IN THE DATE OF BIRTH OR THE SEX OF A
PERSON or the like, which is visible to the eyes or obvious to
the understanding, and can be corrected or changed only by
referee to other existing record or records: Provided, however,
That no correction must involve the change of nationality,
age, or status [or sex] of the petitioner.

‘TION 3. The title of Republic Act No. 9048 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL CIVIL
REGISTRAR OR THE CONSUL GENERAL TO CORRECT A
CLERICAL OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN AN ENTRY OR
CHANGE OF FIRST NAME OR NICKNAME, THE DATE OF
BIRTH OR SEX OF A PERSON IN THE CIVIL REGISTER
WITHOUT NEED OF A JUDICIAL ORDER, AMENDING FOR
THIS PURPOSE ARTICLES 376 AND 412 OF THE CIVIL CODE
OF THE PHILIPPINES.”

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,