Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Eighteenth Congress 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO._______ 
________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go 
________________________________________________________________________ 
   EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Title III, Chapter 4 of the New Civil Code, or Republic Act No. 386, granted priests, 
rabbis, imams, and ministers of any church or religious sect, authorized by their church or 
religion, the authority to solemnize marriages. In 1972, by virtue of Republic Act No.  6514, the 
period of validity of such authority to solemnize marriages was set at three (3) years. In 1987, 
while the President still wields both executive and legislative power, President Corazon Aquino 
enacted into law the Family Code, Executive Order No. 209, s. 1987. The Family Code 
repealed, amended and modified certain provisions of the New Civil Code, including the Title 
on the Authority to Solemnize Marriages. While the Family Code maintained the authority of 
religious officers to solemnize marriages, the Code was silent as to the period of validity of such 
authority. As such, the period of three years as provided in RA No. 6514 remains in effect as it 
is not inconsistent with the Family Code. The Family Code further specified that the Civil 
Registrar General has the duty to register and issue the certificate of authorization to solemnize 
marriages. As it now stands, a Certificate of Registration of Authority to Solemnize Marriage 
(CRASM) is issued upon a valid application, and upon payment of fees. The CRASM is valid for 
three (3) years, and renewable on December of the third year.  
This bill seeks to extend the validity of the authority granted to priests, rabbis, imams and 
minsters to solemnize marriages from a period of three (3) years to five (5) years. Any person who 
solemnizes a marriage without the proper authority may be subjected to criminal and civil 
liabilities. Extending the validity of the authority, will lessen the expenses of these religious offices 
in connection with the renewal of their authority, and will help avoid inconveniences for their 
members who wish to have their marriage solemnized in accordance with their religious rites. 
Hence, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
MARK O. GO 
August 5, 2021
12:11 pm
9928


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Eighteenth Congress 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.______ 
________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go  
________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF THE AUTHORIZATION TO SOLEMNIZE 
MARRIAGE ISSUED TO PRIESTS, MINISTERS, IMAM, OR RABBIS, FROM A 
PERIOD OF 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.  Validity of Authorization to Solemnize Marriage- The authorization to 
solemnize marriages issued to any priest, rabbi, imam or minster of any church or religious sect 
duly authorized by their church or religion and registered with the civil register general, shall be 
valid for a period of five years; shall expire on the thirty-first day of December of every fifth 
year; and shall be renewable within the said month of December. 
SEC. 2. Validity of Existing Authorization- The authorizations to solemnize marriage 
issued prior to and valid on the date of approval of this Act shall continue to be valid and shall 
expire on the date specified therein. 
SEC. 3.   Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.   
SEC. 4. Effectivity.  –  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
9928