FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
I 0 .jill. 22 P 4 :54 
SEN~U\ 
S.No. 
1~22 
I'l€CEIIJED ~-~ 
" 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitutional right to equal treatment of both men and women is one which the 
State endeavors to uphold. Pursuant to this, efforts have been exerted to eliminate vestiges of 
inequalities found in existing laws. 
In Republic Act No. 386, also known as the Civil Code of the Philippines and Executive 
Order 209, also known as the Family Code of the Philippines, a married woman continues to be 
treated as a mere appendage of her husband. She is not specifically granted the option to use her 
maiden name and surname. 
The principle of fundamental equality between men and women requires the passage of a 
bill of this nature. By allowing Filipino women to retain their surnames as part of their 
individualitY1' even after marriage or legal separation, we shall be eliminating yet another vestige 
of inequality found in our laws, and translating the constitutional edict into a tangible reality.! 
1 This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
UFFiCE •.. 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~W. 
S.No. 
1~22 
RIeC!:iVED BY: .--J'?<--
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
ALLOWING MARRIED OR LEGALLY SEPARATED WOMEN TO USE THEIR MAIDEN 
3 
NAME AND SURNAME, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 386, 
4 
ALSO KNOWN AS THE CNIL CODE, ARTICLES 370 AND 372, AND EXECUTIVE 
5 
ORDER 209 SERIES OF 1987, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FAMILY CODE, ARTICLE 63 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
6 
SECTION 1. Article 370 of Republic Act Numbered Three Hundred Eighty-six, is hereby 
7 
further amended to read as follows: 
8 
"Article 370. A married woman may use: 
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(1) HER MAIDEN FIRST NAME AND SURNAME, or 
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(2) Her maiden first name and surname and add her husband's surname, or 
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(3) Her maiden first name and her husband's surname, or 
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(4) Her husband's full name, but prefixing a word indicating that she is his 
13 
wife. such as Mrs." 
14 
SECTION 2. Article 372 of the same Act is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
15 
"Article 372. When legal separation has been granted, the wife MAY 
16 
EITHER continue using her name and surname employed before the legal 
17 
separation OR HER MAIDEN FIRST NAME AND SURNAME." 
18 
SECTION 3. Article 63 of Executive Order No. 209, series of 1987, also known as the 
19 
Family Code of the Philippines, is hereby amended by adding a new paragraph to be numbered 
20 
as paragraph 5 and to read as follows: 
1 


1 
"Article 63. The decree of legal separation shaH have the foHowing 
2 
effects: 
3 
(1) The spouses shaH be entitled to live separately from each other, but the 
4 
marriage bonds shall not be severe; 
5 
(2) The absolute community or the conjugal partnership shaH be dissolved 
6 
and liquidated but the offending spouse shall have no right 10 any share of the net 
7 
profits earned by the absolute community or the conjugal partnership, which shall 
8' 
be forfeited in accordance with the provisions of Article 43(2); 
9 
(3) The custody of the minor children shall be awarded to the innocent 
10 
spouse, subject to the provisions of Article 213 ofthis Code; 
11 
(4) The offending spouse shall be disqualified from inheriting from the 
12 
innocent spouse by interstate succession. Moreover, provisions in favor of the 
13 
offending spouse made in the will of the innocent spouse shaH be revoked by 
14 
operation oflaw. 
15 
(5) THE WIFE SHALL HAVE THE OPTION TO CONTINUE USING 
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HER NAME BEFORE THE LEGAL SEPARATION OR HER MAIDEN FIRST 
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NAME AND SURNAME." 
18 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
19 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
22 
pUblication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
2