EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S E N A T E  
S. No. 11 7 9
n f r ,
'19 NOV 18 P3 20
R E C E iv O B '
Introduced by Senator Aqiiilino “Koko” Pimentel III
AN ACT EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF THE AUTHORITY 
TO SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGE ISSUED TO PRIESTS, 
MINISTERS OR RABBIS, AMENDING FOR I HE PURPOSE 
ARTICLE NINETY-FIVE 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 VII 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 and
1 A n  A c t T h a t T h e  A u th o riz a tio n  To S o le m n iz e  M a rria g e  Is s u e d  To P rie sts, O r M in is te rs  O r R a b b is S h a ll Be V a lid  F or 
A  P e rio d  O f T h re e  Years T h e  S a m e  To E x p ire  O n  T h e  T h irty -F irs t D ay O f D e c e m b e r O f E ve ry T h ird  Year, A m e n d in g  
F o r T h e  P u rp o s e  A rtic le  N in e ty -F iv e  O f T h e  C ivil C o d e  O f T h e  P h ilip p in e s  A n d  F o r O th e r P u rp o s e s . A p p ro v e d  O n  Ju ly 
22, 1972.


religious sect, this bill seeks to lengthen the validity of their authority to 
the solemnize marriage to five years in order to give them more time and 
opportunity to render such service while reducing the cost of expenses 
related to the processing of the renewal of their authority.
Therefore, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
AQUILINO ‘^KOKO” PIMENTEL III


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S E N A T E  
S. No. 1179
-"• 
u r i: 
ill 11; 
fr. tnrp
'19 NOV 18 P3 ;20
REC£i 
J  B'''____ ^
Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel HI
AN ACT EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF THE AUTHORITY 
TO SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGE ISSUED TO PRIESTS, 
MINISTERS OR RABBIS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
ARTICLE NINETY-FIVE 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:
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SECTION 1. Article 95 of Republic Act Numbered Three hundred
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and eighty-six, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as
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follows:
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"Art. 95. The public official in charge of
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registration of priests, 
ministers or rabbis with the
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approval of the proper head of department, is hereby
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authorized to prepare the necessary forms and to
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promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of
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enforcing the provisions of this Title: provided, that the
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authorization to solemnize marriages shall be valid for a
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period of [threel FIVE years, shall expire on the thirty-
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first day of December of every [third] FIFTH year, and
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shall be renewable within the said month of December:
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provided, further, that the authorizations to solemnize
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marriage issued prior to and valid on the date of the


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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: provided, finally, 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.
"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 at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
or in the Official Gazette.
Approved,