Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO 
AN ACT  PROVIDING FOR THE PERMANENT VALIDITY OF THE 
CERTIFICATES OF LIVE BIRTH, DEATH, AND MARRIAGE ISSUED, SIGNED, 
CERTIFIED, AND AUTHENTICATED BY THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS 
AUTHORITY (PSA), THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICES, AND THE 
NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE (NSO) 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In a June 2016 press statement by the Philippine Statistics Authority, they clearly stated that 
some features, such as the color of the SECPA wherein the document is being printed, are 
changed over time. This is done to prevent the proliferation of counterfeit documents. 
However, the change in color does not render the previously issued document invalid or 
expired, unless it has become tattered or unreadable and there have been authorized annotations 
due to changes in facts. The PSA emphasized that those certificates they issue should have no 
expiry date and clarified that those issued by the NSO have no expiration and are the same as 
those issued by the PSA. 
Despite the fact that issued certificates have no expiry, majority of our government agencies 
and employers require applicants to submit the certificate of live birth, or death or marriage 
printed on the latest SECPA and issued within the last six (6) months. This practice places 
additional and unnecessary expenses to many Filipinos.  
This measure aims to remove the burden of many Filipinos and to further strengthen the 
mandate of RA11032 or the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service 
Delivery Act of 2018” by providing permanent validity of the certificates of live birth, death, 
and marriage issued, signed, certified, or authenticated by the PSA, NSO and the local civil 
registry offices. 
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
“KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO 
Representative 
First District of Bulacan 
May 21, 2021
12:28 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO 
AN ACT  PROVIDING FOR THE PERMANENT VALIDITY OF THE 
CERTIFICATES OF LIVE BIRTH, DEATH, AND MARRIAGE ISSUED, SIGNED, 
CERTIFIED, AND AUTHENTICATED BY THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS 
AUTHORITY (PSA), THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICES, AND THE 
NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE (NSO) 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Lingkod Permanent Validity of 
the Certificates of Live Birth, Death and Marriage Act.”  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to establish an effective system 
for providing copies of civil registry documents to all its citizens. The State likewise promotes 
efficiency and economy by removing duplicitous processes and requirements involving the 
issuance and use of those documents. Towards this end, the State shall enforce the permanent 
validity of the certificates of live birth, death, and marriage issued, signed, certified, or 
authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the local civil registry offices, and 
the National Statistics Office (NSO). 
SEC. 3. Permanent Validity. – The Certificate of Live Birth, the Certificate of Death, and the 
Certificate of Marriage issued, signed, certified or authenticated by the PSA, the local civil 
registry offices or the NSO, shall have permanent validity regardless of the date of issuance, 
shall be recognized and accepted in all government or private transactions or services requiring 
submission as proof of identity and legal status of a person: Provided, That the document 
remains intact and readable, and still visibly contains the authenticity and security features: 
Provided further, That the entries in the certificates of live birth, death, and marriage do not 
require administrative or judicial correction as provided under Republic Act No. 9048 entitled 
“An Act Authorizing the City or Municipal Civil Registrar or the Consul General to Correct a 
Clerical or Typographical Error in an Entry and/or Change of First Name or Nickname 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,” as amended by Republic Act No. 10172 entitled “An 
Act Further Authorizing the City or Municipal Civil Registrar or the Consul General to Correct 
Clerical or Typographical Errors in the Day and Month in the Date of Birth or Sex of a Person 
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Appearing in the Civil Register Without Need of a Judicial Order, Amending for this Purpose 
Republic Act Numbered Ninety Forty-Eight,” and Republic Act No. 9255 entitled “An Act 
Allowing Illegitimate Children to Use the Surname of their Father, Amending for the Purpose 
Article 176 of Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the "Family Code of the 
Philippines.” Provided, further, That for the Certificate of Marriage, the marriage has not been 
judicially decreed annulled or declared void ab initio as provided under the Family Code of the 
Philippines or under any subsequent laws amending it. Otherwise, the person is required to 
submit the newly-corrected copy of the Certificate of Live Birth or the Certificate of Marriage. 
 
This provision likewise applies to reports of birth issued by Foreign Service Posts to Filipinos 
born overseas which are duly-registered at the PSA.  
 
SEC. 4. Securing of Copies. - The permanent validity herein declared notwithstanding, no 
person whose information on the occurrence and characteristics of vital events is registered in 
the civil registry, or the authorized representative, shall be prevented from securing a copy of 
civil registry documents in such number of prints or as often as necessary, subject to applicable 
payment of relevant fees prescribed by the PSA and the local civil registry office concerned. 
The initial issuance of a certificate, and request for replacement due to loss or damage and 
reissuance upon presentation of a Certificate of Indigency, shall be free of charge. 
  
SEC. 5. Prohibited Requirement. - National government agencies and instrumentalities, 
government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units, private companies, 
and other non-government entities are prohibited from requiring the submission of a certificate 
of live birth, or death or marriage printed on the most recent version of the security paper issued 
by the PSA or certified within the past six (6) months. 
  
SEC. 6. Non-Availability of PSA-Issued Certificate. – In all transactions or services where 
a copy of the certificate of live birth, or death or marriage is required and a PSA-issued 
certificate is not available, it shall be sufficient for the person concerned or the authorized 
representative to submit to the end-user agency, company or entity the original or a certified 
true copy of the original certificate of live birth, or death or marriage issued and signed by the 
local civil registrar or those bearing NSO logo. 
 
SEC. 7. Submission of Other Documents. - The submission of a PSA authenticated birth 
certificate shall be without prejudice to the submission of other supporting documents that the 
end-user agency, company or entity may use in determining the identity of applicants, 
particularly those classified as special cases such as dual citizens, female applicants with 
dissolved marriages, and those with late registered certificates of live birth.  
 
SEC. 8. Civil Registry Database. – Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the 
PSA, in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology 
(DICT), shall develop a civil registry database in local civil registry offices and establish a 
virtual viewing facility where the certificates of live birth, death and marriage may be verified 
for authenticity of the photocopy submitted. The facility shall incorporate such controls and 
safeguards as are appropriate and necessary to ensure that only authorized personnel have 
access to the facility and the confidentiality of the information is protected at all times, in 
accordance with the relevant provisions of Presidential Decree No. 603, otherwise known as 
the “Child and Youth Welfare Code” as amended, and Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise 
known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012.” The PSA may charge reasonable fees for the use of 
the virtual viewing facility.  


To maximize the ease and convenience offered by technological advancements, the PSA shall 
continually upgrade the virtual viewing facility and adopt appropriate policies towards the 
migration of the required submission of the certificates of live birth, death, and marriage into a 
paperless process.  
 
SEC. 9. Penalty. – Any person who violates Section 5 of this Act shall, upon conviction, be 
punished with imprisonment of one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months or a fine of 
not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but not more than Ten thousand pesos 
(P10,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. 
  
If the violation is committed by a public official or employee, an accessory penalty of 
temporary disqualification to hold public office shall likewise be imposed. 
 
If the violation is committed by a corporation, partnership, or association, the board of 
directors, partners, trustees, officials, and employees who directly participated in the 
commission of the unlawful act shall be liable. 
 
SEC. 10. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be 
charged against the current appropriations of the National Economic and Development 
Authority (NEDA). Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity 
of this Act, the National Statistician, in coordination with the Secretaries of the Department of 
Interior and Local Government and the DICT, and the Director-General of the NEDA, shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. – If any provision, section, or part of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair any other 
provisions, sections or parts hereof. 
 
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, rules and regulations, orders, circulars, and other 
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, modified or amended accordingly.  
 
SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,