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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17th Congress
76

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. MA. LOURDES R. AGGABAO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Civil Register in the Philippines was formally created through Act No. 3753, which
took effect on February 27, 1931. Throughout the decades, several pieces of legislation were
passed in order to strengthen and develop the existing system in our country. However, existing
laws on civil registration as well as laws on persons and family relations have changed thereby
making some provisions obsolete. The Philippines has also become a signatory to the United
Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in Asia and
the Pacific adopted a Ministerial Declaration on November 2014 to ‘Get Every One in the
Picture’ and proclaimed the ‘Asian and Pacific CRVS Decade’ for 2015-2024. It outlines the
commitment of governments to achieve a shared vision that by 2024 all people in Asia and the
Pacific will benefit from universal and responsive CRVS systems that facilitate the realization of
their rights and support good governance, health and development.

In line with the country’s international commitment, this bill seeks to address the current
developments and pressing issues and provide solutions for a more efficient and effective civil
registration system. It is of primordial importance that procedures must be standardized and
modernized to establish the identity of an individual for administrative and legal purposes. The
system must not only meet international standards but must also be responsive in the Philippine
context. The production of statistics vis-a-vis the gathering of data and information must be
made with the utmost efficiency without sacrificing public access to it.

The current set-up provides that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) only exercises
technical supervision over Local Civil Registrars (LCRs) while the designated Local
Government Unit (LGU) exercises administrative supervision. However, Section 11 of Republic
Act No. 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013 mandates that the National Statistician,
as head of the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA) is tasked to provide over-all direction in the
implementation of the Civil Registry Law and related issuances and exercise technical
supervision over the local civil registrars.

Pursuant to this recent enactment, this bill mandates that the PSA should be at the
forefront of civil registration and vital statistics in the Philippines. The PSA must have overall
supervision over LCRs to ensure the fulfillment of their duties and functions. Funding for the
LCRs and their staff is to be provided by the PSA. Moreover, mandatory continuing education
and training programs for the LCRs and their staff must _be implemented by the PSA.

This new civil registration system seeks to be more inclusive and participative.
Acknowledging the fact of diverse culture and heritage in our nation, the express recognition of
Indigenous Peoples and Muslim Filipinos in the bill is a first step towards a more comprehensive
system. Responding to the needs of Filipinos who are not in the Philippines, the bill also seeks to
establish civil registration attaches abroad.


Furthermore, consistent with Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
which states that every child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right
from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality, this bill seeks to remove discrimfnation to
children with no known parents who are referred in the current system of civil registration as
foundlings. All children are born and shall therefore be entitled to a birth certificate instead of a
foundling certificate.

The bill also demands more accountability on the part of violators and enforces strict
compliance with the standards set by law by identifying the liabilities and imposing stricter
penalties for violation of the Civil Registration Act.

New challenges and techniques from international standards would trickle down to all
members of the system making everyone aware of such advancements, With everyone working
together to reach the same goal, the State policy mandating the basic and compulsory registration
of all vital events and the accompanying changes in the civil status of every Filipino citizen
would be realized.

In this context, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

MA. LOURDBSR. AGGABAO
Representative, 4 District Isabela


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

7695

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. Ma. Lourdes R. Aggabao

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL REGISTRATION SYSTEM,
REORGANIZING THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY SYSTEM, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Comprehensive Civil Registration
Act’.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall promote and maintain an efficient and
more responsive civil registration system. Towards this end, standardization and
modernization of registration procedures is necessary to establish the identity of an
individual for administrative and legal purposes. Moreover, efficient and simplified
procedures in recording vital events must be applied in civil registration in order to establish
the most precise identity of an individual for the benefit of the general public.

The State declares the registration of births, deaths, marriages and children born
without known parents as a national State policy.

In the implementation of the policy stated above, the State, in enacting this Civil
Registration Act, institutionalizes and hereby maintains a legal framework related to the civil
registration and vital statistics (CVRS), ensuring that the system is responsive and meets
the relevant international standards and recommendations as well as ensuring the gathering
of statistics and easier retrieval and recording of statistics. The State shall endeavor to
facilitate the realization of the people's rights and support good governance, health and
development through the universal and responsive CRVS system. In this light, the State
shall work towards reaching the following goals:

Goal 1: Universal civil registration of all births, deaths, marriages, and other vital events
based on accurate data.


Goal 2: Entitlement of all individuals to legal documentation of civil registration of their
births, deaths, marriages and other vital events, as necessary, to claim identity, civil
status and ensuing rights;

Goal 3: Production and dissemination of accurate, complete and timely vital statistics
(including on causes of death) are produced based on registration records.

Section 3. Coverage. This law shall embrace all acts, events, and judicial and
administrative issuances affecting the civil status of persons in the Philippines and all
Filipino citizens abroad

Section 4. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms are defined as
follows:

a) Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS) — refers to a scheme to facilitate extensive
civil registration at the barangay level involving all barangay officials assisting the Local Civil
Registrars (LCRs) in civil registration work, as provided in Section 394 (d) (5) RA 7160,
otherwise known as the Local Government Code of the Philippines;

b) Birth Attendant - refer exclusively to persons with midwifery skills such as licensed
doctors, midwives, and nurses who have been trained to proficiency in the skills necessary
to manage normal deliveries and diagnose, manage, or refer obstetric complications;

c) Circuit Registrar — refers to the Clerk of Court of a Shari'a Circuit Court performing as
Circuit Registrar of Muslim marriages, divorces, revocations of divorces, and conversions
within the respective court's jurisdiction, as provided in Title VI, Book Two of Presidential
Decree No. 1083 otherwise known as the Code of Muslim Personal Laws;

d) Civil Registrar (CR) — refers to the head of the Local Civil Registry Office (CIVIL
REGISTRAR'S OFFICE), the Consul General (CG) in Philippine Consulate Offices, or the
Clerk of Court in Shari’a District and Circuit Courts;

) Civil Register — refers to the various civil registry books and related certificates and
documents where registrable acts, events, and judicial and administrative issuances
concerning the civil status of a person are recorded and kept in the archives of the CIVIL
REGISTRAR'S OFFICEs, Philippine Consulate Offices. Shari'a District and Circuit Courts,
and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);

f) Civil Registrar General (CRG) — refers to the head of the PSA who is also the National
Statistician of the government of the Philippines;

g) Civil Registration — refers to the continuous, permanent, universal and compulsory
documentation of occurrence and characteristics of vital events in the life of a person,
including any modifications thereof during his lifetime and until his death, as provided for by
this Act;


h) Civil Registry Document — refers to a certificate or any document relating to the civil
‘status of a person which is recorded and kept in the archives of the CIVIL REGISTRAR’S
OFFICEs, Philippine Consulate Offices, Shari'a District and Circuit courts and the PSA;

i) Consul General (CG) - refers to the head of a Philippine Consulate Office acting as Civil
Registrar of all civil registry documents involving Filipinos in a foreign country;

j) District Recorder (DR) — refers to the Clerk of Court of the Shari'a District Court
performing civil registration-related functions as District Recorder of Muslim marriages,
divorces, revocation of divorces, and conversions with the respective court’s territorial
jurisdiction, as provided in Title VI, Book Two of Presidential Decree No. 1083 otherwise
known as the Code of Muslim Personal Laws;

k) Legal Instrument — refers to the affidavit/affirmation pertaining to civil registration;
!) Local Civil Registrar (LCR) — refers to the head of the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE;
m) National Statistician — the head of the PSA acting as the CRG for the purpose of this Act;

'n) Out-of-town Reporting — occurs when the certificate of live birth or death is presented to
the civil registrar of a city or municipality which is not the place of birth or death, not for
registration but to be forwarded to the civil registrar of the city or municipality where the birth
or death occurred and where it should be registered; and

©) Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) — refers to the central statistics authority of the
Republic of the Philippines headed by the National Statistician.

Section 5. Registrable Acts and Events. The following are the Registrable Acts And
Events:
Birth;
Death;
Application for Marriage License;
Marriage;
. Court Orders or Decrees; and
. Legal Instruments;

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The Registrable Court Orders or Decrees are the following:

Adoption;
. Rescission of Adoption;
}. Annulment of Marriage;
}. Declaration of Nullity of Marriage;
. Declaration of Presumptive Death;
Compulsory Recognition of Illegitimate Child;
. Voluntary Recognition of Minor Illegitimate Child;
. Appointment of Guardian;

@PNOASON=


9. Termination of Guardianship;

10. Judicial Determination of Filiation;

11. Naturalization;

12. Cancellation of Naturalization;

13. Judicial Determination of The Fact of Reappearance, if Disputed;
14. Separation of Property;

15. Revival of Former Property Regime; and

16. Foreign Court Orders Decided Abroad.

The civil registrar shall properly enter the registrable events and court orders or decrees.

Section 6. Registration and Certification of Birth. The declaration of the physician,
midwife, nurse, birth attendant, finder or in default thereof, the declaration of either or both
parents or any person who has knowledge of the facts of birth of the newborn child shall be
‘sufficient for the registration of birth in the civil register.

The duly accomplished Certificate of Live Birth containing the above declaration shall be
submitted for registration to the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the birth occurred
within thirty (30) calendar days from date of birth by the aforementioned persons, declaring
the following when available:

a.) Full name of the child;

b.) Sex;

c.) Date of birth;

d.) Place of birth or where found;

e.) Name of mother;

f.) Citizenship of the mother;

g.) Name of father;

h.) Citizenship of the father;

i.) Date and place of marriage of parents; and
j,) Such other data as may be required in the implementing rules and regulations of
this Act.

The fetus is considered born if itis alive at the time it is completely delivered from the
mother's womb and has an intrauterine life of seven (7) months or more, hence shall be
considered as live birth and shall be registered in the Register of Births.

The fetus is not deemed born if it has an intrauterine life of less than seven (7)
months and dies within twenty-four (24) hours after its delivery from the mother's womb. But
for statistical purposes, a COLB shall be prepared in duplicate, where in a copy shall be
forwarded to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General and the other for Civil Registrar's file.

The registration of birth which occurs aboard a vehicle, vessel, or airplane while in
transit, shall be a joint responsibility of the driver, captain or pilot and the parents, as the
case maybe. All cases of birth on board a vessel or airplane en route to the Philippines
shall be recorded in the civil register of the city or municipality where the mother habitually


resides if either of the parent is a citizen of the Philippines or both are. When the parents
are both foreigners but not residents of the Philippines, the birth may be recorded in the civil
register of Manila, if they so desire.

Section 7. Delayed Registration of Birth. A person who has not been registered with the
CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE at the place of birth or where found shall apply for delayed
registration within the prescribed period of thirty (30) calendar days upon discovering that no
entry of birth has been recorded in the Register of Births.

For delayed registration, resort to out-of-town registration of birth may be allowed,
where the place of application for registration is other than the place of birth of the person
seeking to be registered.

Section 8. Strict Confidentiality of Birth Records. The record of a person's birth shall be
kept confidential and no information relating thereto shall be issued except upon request of
the following:
a) The concerned person herself/himself, or any person authorized by him;
b) Spouse;
c) Any or both the parents, direct descendants, or the guardian or institution legally
in-charge in case of a minor;
d) The Court or appropriate public official whenever absolutely necessary in
administrative, judicial or other official proceedings to determine the identity of the
child's parents or other circumstances surrounding the birth; and
e) The nearest kin in case of a person's death.

Section 9. Registration of Birth of Filipino Children Born Abroad. The parents shall
cause the registration of the birth of their child to the Philippine Consulate which in turn shall
issue a Report of Birth within thirty (30) calendar days from date of birth of a Filipino child,
declaring the following when available:

a) Full name of the child;

b) Sex;

c) Date of birth;

d) Place of birth or where found;

e) Name of mother;

f) Citizenship of the mother;

g) Name of father;

k.) Citizenship of the father;

1.) Date and place of marriage of parents; and

m.) Such other data as may be required in the implementing rules and regulations of

this Act.

Section 10. Registration of Persons without Known Parents. All without known parents,
guardians or relatives, or a person committed in an orphanage or charitable institution with
unknown facts of birth and parentage, shall be reported by the finder to the Barangay
Captain of the place where the person was found, or to the police headquarters, whichever
is nearer or convenient to the finder. When the report is duly noted, the finder shall bring the


child to the nearest Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in the
region, for proper screening, assessment and evaluation by an authorized social worker
within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of finding or commitment of the child. The
finder shall execute a sworn statement before the Barangay Captain stating the facts and
circumstances surrounding the finding of the person.

The finder or charitable institution concerned shall cause the registration before the
CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where such person was found within thirty (30) calendar
days from the date of entrustment to the institution.

Any report made after the thirty-day period shall be considered late registration, and
the concerned party shall be required to state in a sworn statement the circumstances that
caused the late reporting to the civil registrar.

The CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE shall issue a Certificate of Birth, a copy of which
together with the supporting document, if any, shall be transmitted to the office of the CRG.
Giving the name of the person and his/her registration shall be the responsibility of the
institution.

The Barangay Captain or the police authority must issue a Certification attesting that
No one has a claim over the person or nobody has reported for a missing person with the
‘same description as of the date of certification.

Section 11. Registration of Adoption. The decree of adoption shall be recorded in the
Civil register within thirty (30) days after the date of issue of the final judgment of the court.

After registration of the decree of adoption, the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where
the birth of the adopted was registered shall immediately issue an amended COLB.

Such COLB of an adopted child shall not bear any mark or annotation or any
indication of the facts of adoption. It shall have the same entries as those appearing in the
original records of birth, except for the following items of information:

a) Name of the adopted — The first name of the adopted child shall be the same as in
the original COLB unless the order of adoption carried an order changing it to
another name. The middle name of the adopted child shall be the same as the
middle name of the adopter, except when the husband and the wife jointly adopted
the child, in which case, the middle name of the adopted shall be the surname of the
adopting mother. The surname of the adopted child shall be that of the adopter. If
the husband and wife jointly adopt the child, the adopted child shall use the surname
of the adopting father.

b) Names of parents — The names of the natural parents of the adopted child shall be
substituted by the names of the adopting parents, to be indicated in the appropriate
spaces in the COLB as the father or mother, as the case maybe; and


¢) Other information — Other information about the adopting parents such as
citizenship and religion shall be indicated in the appropriate spaces of the amended
certificate of live birth.

The birth order of the adopted and other information about the adopted shall follow
the information given by the adopting parents, unless the court order states otherwise. In
cases where legally married husband and wife jointly adopt the child, the date and place of
marriage of the adopting parents shall be entered in the appropriate spaces of the amended
certificate of live birth of the adopted child.

In all cases of adoption, no amendment or changes shall be effected in the civil
registry books where the original birth records was duly registered, except for the marginal
annotation by virtue of the adoption decree

In case the adopted child has no known parents, the basis for the issuance of the
amended COLB shall be the court order.

Section 12. Registration and Certification of Death. No human body shall be buried or
cremated unless the proper death certificate has been presented and recorded in the CIVIL
REGISTRAR'S OFFICE.

The physician who attended the deceased, or in his default, the health officer
concerned, any member of the family of the deceased or any person having knowledge of
the death shall immediately report the same to the local health authorities who shall issue a
death certificate and shall order the same to be recorded before the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S
OFFICE at the place of death.

The death certificate which shall be issued by the attending physician of the
deceased or, in his default, by the authorized health officer, shall indicate the following data,
which shall be furnished by the person reporting the death to the civil registrar:

a) Full name of the deceased;

b) Sex;

c) Age;

4) Civil status;

e) Nationality;

F) Date of birth;

G) Place of birth;

h) Date of death;

i) Place of death;

j) Full names of the deceased's parents;
k) Cause of death; and

1) Such other relevant data that may be required.

The surname to be entered in the registry of death and the Death Certificate shall be
the surname used prior to his/her death. In case the deceased is a legally married woman,


informants shall register the death using the surname she chose as a legally married
person. The registration of death shall be made within thirty (30) calendar days from the
time and date of death before the CIVIL REGISTRAR’S OFFICE at the place of death, or
the Philippine Consulate Office in the foreign country where the death happened.

In the absence of the city or municipal health officer or his authorized representative
in the place of registration, or when it is a non-working day and the health officer or his
authorized representative is not expected to be in the office, the death shall be reported by
the nearest kin of the deceased or by any person having knowledge of the death within
forty-eight (48) hours after its occurrence, to the mayor or to the vice mayor or any member
of the Sangguniang Bayan or to the municipal secretary, who shall issue and sign the
medical certification of the Certificate of Death for burial, cremation, and registration
purposes.

When the death is subjected to a medico-legal examination, or the cause of death is
under investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or other concerned
government office and the body of the deceased is subjected to autopsy or examination of
the medico-legal officers and no record of death has been registered, the head of the NBI or
other investigative agency or the duly authorized representative shall cause the registration
of such death through the City or Municipal Health Officer at the place of death. The
medico-legal officer shall accomplish and sign the medical certification portion of the
certificate of death, subject to the review of the City or Municipal Health Officer.

Section 13. Delayed Registration of Death. A deceased person's facts of death that have
not been registered within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of death shall be allowed
delayed registration before the CIVIL REGISTRAR’S OFFICE at the place of death.

In any case, out-of-town registration of death may be allowed.

Section 14. Registration of Fetal Death and Other Deaths. Registration of death of fetus
and body not recovered as a result of a crime or accident and other analogous cases shall
follow the same procedure in the registration of death.

Section 15. Registration of the Application for Marriage License. An application for
marriage license shall be filed by the contracting parties before the CR where one of the
parties resides. The CR shall enter all applications in the Register of Applications for
Marriage License strictly in the order of receipt of applications. The CR shall record in said
register the names of the applicants, the date on which the marriage license was issued,
and such other data as may be necessary.

No application shall be received by the CR unless supporting documents are
attached thereto and no application shall be posted unless it is received by the CR.
Registration of the application shall only take place after the completion of the posting
period.


All applications for marriage license shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of
EO. No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines.

Section 16. Registration of Marriage. All marriages shall be registered by the solemnizing
officer before the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE of the place where they were solemnized.
In case of marriages solemnized while in transit:

a) En route to, or within the Philippines, the marriage shall be registered at the place
of residence of either party; or

'b) Leaving the Philippines, the marriage shall be registered at the consulate of the
Philippines in the place of destination of the parties, or in the absence thereof, to the
nearest Philippine consulate from the place of destination.

All marriages shall be registered within thirty (30) days from the date of the marriage.
Marriages registered after the stipulated period shall be considered late registration and an
administrative fee shall be imposed on the solemnizing officer. In no case shall double or
multiple registration of marriages be allowed, except for cases provided by law.

Section 17. Multiple Registration. In cases of multiple registrations of birth, marriage and
death, the first duly registered document shall prevail, unless the Court orders otherwise.

For multiple marriages by and between the same parties, the first marriage shall prevail,
and not the first registered marriage of such parties.

Section 18. Registration of Solemnizing Officers. All solemnizing officers shall be
registered with the Office of the CRG, except those who are not required to be so registered
as provided for by law or existing rules.

The Mayor, with the assistance of the CIVIL REGISTRAR’S OFFICE, shall determine
documents pertaining to the existence of religious sects.

Section 19. Registration of Court Orders. In case of court issuance or order concerning
the status of a person, the Clerk of Court shall advise the successful petitioner to register
such document before the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE which has jurisdiction on the
issuing court. In cases of legal separation, absolute nullity of void marriages and annulment
of voidable marriages, the prevailing party shall cause the registration of the decree in the
CIVIL _REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the marriage was registered, the CIVIL
REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the family court is situated, and in the PSA. Such party shall
report to the Court compliance with this requirement within thirty (30) days from receipt of
the copy of the decree.

In case a person other than the petitioner shall apply to register a court order before
the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, the LCR has the responsibility to verify the veracity of
the court issuance or order, otherwise, registration thereof shall be refused.

The CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the event was registered shall forward a
certified true copy of the order to the CIVIL REGISTRAR’S OFFICE where the vital event


affected was originally registered. The CIVIL REGISTRAR’S OFFICE where the vital event
was originally registered shall make proper annotations in the document and in the
applicable registry book. The CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE which has jurisdiction over the
original registry shall send a certified true copy of the annotated document and the
registered court order to the CRG.

Each corrected document shall be reported to the Office of the CRG during the usual
reporting month.

All court order shall be registered within thirty (30) days after its finality, otherwise it
‘shall be considered as delayed registration.

All court orders shall be effected through annotations in the civil registry document
except in an adoption case when the child shall be entitled to the issuance of an amended
COLB.

Section 20. Registration of Presumptive Death. A judicial order or decree declaring a
person presumably dead for purposes of remarriage shall be registered in the office of the
local civil registrar of the place where the marriage was solemnized. It shall be annotated
and recorded. The registration shall be annotated in the marriage register as well as in the
marriage certificate.

Section 21. Registration of Foreign Court Orders Decided Abroad. All foreign court
orders involving status of persons residing in the Philippines shall be registered before the
CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the affected document is registered. These foreign
court orders, to be legal and binding in Philippine jurisdiction, must first be recognized by
the appropriate Regional Trial Court which has the lawful jurisdiction over such case.

Section 22. Registration of Legal Instruments. As a general rule, all legal instruments
shall be registered in the civil registry of the place where they were executed except for the
following:
a) Affidavit of Reappearance — where the parties to the subsequent marriage are
residing;
b) Marriage Settlement — where the marriage is recorded;
c) Admission of Paternity, Acknowledgment, Legitimation, Voluntary Emancipation of
Minor, Artificial Insemination — where the birth of child was recorded.

Section 23. Registration of Affidavit of Reappearance. A sworn statement of the facts
and circumstances of reappearance of the absentee spouse shall be recorded in the civil
registry office where subsequent marriage of the present spouse was recorded, at the
instance of any interested person, with due notice to the spouses of the subsequent
marriage and without prejudice to the fact of reappearance being judicially determined in
cases where such a fact is disputed.

Section 24. Registration of Affidavit of Acknowledgment or Affidavit of Admission of
Paternity. It shall be the duty of parents or parent who executed the affidavit of


acknowledgment to send the original copy to the CIVIL REGISTRAR’S OFFICE where the
entries on the birth of the child were recorded for registration in the Register of Legal
Instruments and for proper annotation in the Register of Births.

Section 25. Authorization of Ratification of Artificial Insemination and In Vitro
Fertilization. Children conceived as result of artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization of
the wife with the sperm of the husband or that of a donor or both are likewise legitimate
children of the husband and wife; Provided, That both of them authorized or ratified such
insemination or fertilization in a written instrument executed and signed by both of them
before the birth of the child. The instrument shall be recorded in the civil register together
with the COLB of the child.

Section 26. Option to Elect Philippine Citizenship. The option to elect Philippine
citizenship in accordance with Section 3, Article IV of the Constitution shall be expressed in
the statement to be signed and sworn to by the party concerned before any officer
authorized to administer oaths, and shall be filed and registered at the CIVIL REGISTRAR’S
OFFICE of the place where the instrument was executed. The instrument of option to elect
Philippine citizenship subscribed, and sworn to before a consular officer of the Philippine
embassy abroad, together with his oath of allegiance of the person electing Philippine
citizenship, and shall be registered at the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE of Manila.

Section 27. Registration of Repatriation. The instrument of repatriation and the oath of
allegiance to the Constitution and the Government of the Philippines, shall be filed in the
CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE of the place where the instrument was executed: Provided,
That if the Philippine citizenship is reacquired by naturalization, the order of the court
granting citizenship shall be recorded in the Register of Court Order.

Section 28. Registration of Muslim Filipinos, Indigenous Cultural Communities
(ICCs) or Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Children in Need of Special Protection
(CNSP). Muslim Filipinos, ICCs or IPS and CNSP, by reason of their socio-cultural,
religious, and indigenous peculiarities, and vulnerabilities, shall be registered as follows:

a) Muslim Filipinos — civil registration of Muslim Filipinos shall be governed by PD
1083, EO 157, and its implementing rules and regulations.

b) Indigenous Peoples — civil registration of indigenous cultural communities or
indigenous peoples shall be governed by RA No. 8371 and its implementing rules
and regulations.

c) CNSP — civil registration of Children in Need of Special Protection shall be
governed by the provisions of this act, special laws, and implementing rules and
regulations.

Section 29. Duties and Functions of the Civil Registrar General (CRG). For purposes of
‘this Act, the National Statistician of the PSA, in his/her capacity as CRG, shall perform the
following duties and functions:


a) Exercise direct supervision and control over the performance of all Civil Registrars of
their functions and duties, which function shall be supported by the Deputy National
Statistician for Civil Registration of the PSA;

b) Promulgate rules, regulations, orders, circulars, and memoranda, especially in times of
extraordinary circumstances such as disasters, calamities, and other events, for carrying out
the purpose of this Act, and other civil registration laws;

c) Manage, develop, and digitize a national central repository of all civil registry documents
submitted by all the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICEs, the Philippine Consulate Offices and
the Shari'a District Court for an efficient and most effective archiving of all civil register
towards a more responsive civil registration system and to serve as back database for
purposes of any required statistical analysis;

d) Appoint, discipline, remove, and prescribe qualifications for civil registrars;
e) Prepare and order the printing of necessary forms;
f) Determine and prescribe basic fees for the issuance of civil registry documents;

g) Provide ways and means to assist civil registrars for the reconstruction of local archives
as the need arises;

h) Strictly implement a mandatory continuing education and training program for Civil
Registrars, Consul Generals, District Recorders, and Circuit Registrars;

i) Issue certified copies certificate and other related documents, upon payment of the
prescribed fees;

j) Declare ultra vires any act of civil registrars, and other officials performing civil registration
functions, inconsistent with the prescribed standards, criteria, and procedures; and

k) Enforce the provisions of this Act.

Section 30. Establishment of Civil Registration Attaches. - The Civil Registrar-General
shall appoint civil registration attaches to be assigned in Philippine Embassies, in countries
to be determined by the Civil Registrar General and the Department of Foreign Affairs
where there are large concentrations of Filipinos residing or working abroad or where there
are recurring problems in implementing civil registration of Filipinos overseas. Except for the
Consul's authority to issue marriage license and to solemnize marriage, the civil registration
attaches shall perform all civil registration functions in their assigned post and shall be
under the direct control and supervision of the Civil Registrar General.

Section 31. The Civil Registrar. There shall be Civil Registrars (CR) in city and municipal
governments to be appointed by the Civil Registrar General. The Consul General or his duly


authorized representative in Philippine Consulate Offices and the Clerk of Court of Shari'a
Circuit Court shall automatically act as and perform the functions of a Civil Registrar in the
Philippine Consulate Office, the Shari'a Circuit Court under their respective jurisdiction, in
accordance with Art. 10 of Executive Order No. 209 and Presidential Decree No. 1083,
respectively.

Section 32. Qualifications of the Civil Registrar. No person shall be appointed civil
registrar unless he possesses the following qualifications:

a citizen of the Philippines;
of good moral character;
a holder of a college degree from a recognized college or university;
a holder of a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent; and
. civil registry work for at least five (5) years in the case of the city civil registrar
and three (3) years in the case of the municipal civil registrar.

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In addition to the abovementioned qualifications, the prospective appointee shall only
receive permanent status upon passing, within six months of his appointment as a civil
registrar, an examination conducted by the Civil Service Commission, designed to test his
knowledge on relevant registration laws and regulations and the procedures for the
performance of his or her work.

The PSA, after a thorough evaluation of the qualifications of the prospective appointees,
‘shall appoint the civil registrar from from the list of qualified prospective appointees which
shall include the three (3) nominees recommended by the local chief executive.

Section 33. Duties of the Civil Registrar. The CR shall be responsible for the civil
registration programs in their respective local government unit, Philippine Consulate Office,
Shari'a Circuit Court under their respective jurisdiction. He/she shall develop plans and
strategies that pertain to civil registry programs and projects, and implement the same upon
approval thereof by the CRG, in coordination with the mayor in the case of CIVIL
REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, the Judge of the Shari'a Circuit Court, and the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs in the case of Philippine Consulate Offices.

The CR within the coverage of his respective jurisdiction, shall perform the following
functions:

a) Administer the registration of all registrable vital events, documents, judicial and
administrative issuances or orders affecting the civil status of a person occurring within
his/her respective jurisdiction;

b) Manage the preparation and issuance of certified transcript or copies of certificate and
other related document registered, upon payment of the prescribed fee;

©) Receive and file all registrable certificate, document and judicial and administrative
issuances or other presented for entry;


d) Receive applications for the issuance of a marriage license and issue the license upon
payment of the prescribed fee to the local treasurer provided that the requirements,
supporting certificates and publication thereof for the prescribed period and other related
requirement provided for in existing laws have been complied with;

) Compile all registrable certificates and documents monthly and transmit the same to the
CRG within the first ten (10) calendar days of the succeeding month;

f) Facilitate transmittal to the CRG within the first ten (10) days of each month copies of
registered entries during the preceding month;

9) Classify, index and preserve all registered documents in accordance with the appropriate
archiving procedures, to facilitate search and identification of any information requested;

h) File, keep and preserve in a secured place the civil registry books as required by law;
i) Administer oaths free of charge, for civil registry purposes;

j) Conduct community educational campaigns on vital registration and assist in the
preparation of demographic and other statistics for the local government unit concerned,
upon proper coordination and approval of the CRG;

k) Submit an updated status report whenever a substantial change in the status of files and
‘on the condition of the civil registry documents occur, especially in cases of fire, flood,
earthquake and other natural or manmade calamities;

1) Reconstruct destroyed civil registry records upon compliance with the requirements
following the procedures established by the CRG;

m) Make available at all times the paper for issuance of certificate and civil registry forms in
the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICEs, Philippine Consulate Offices, and the Shari'a Circuit
Courts;

n) Exercise quasi-judicial functions in cases of clerical or typographical errors and change of
first name or nickname, the day and month in the date of birth or sex of a person where it is
patently clear that there was a clerical or typographical error or mistake in the entry, or the
petitioner for the change of first name or nickname finds the first name or nickname to be
ridiculous, tainted with dishonor or extremely difficult to write or pronounce, has been
habitually and continuously used by the petitioner and has been publicly known by that first
name in the community or the change will avoid the confusion, as provided for under
Republic Act (RA) No. 10172 and RA 9048, respectively, or under other existing law to that
effect;


0) Recommend to the legislative bodies through the CRG and collaborate with
administrative agencies in the formulation of systems, procedures, policies, rules and
regulations on civil registration; and

p) Generate vital statistics of the records that are in the office

Section 34. Mandatory Continuing Education and Training Program. To ensure that the
efficient and effective delivery of civil registration services and meet the demand for quality
civil registrars who shall perform civil registration functions, the Civil Register-General shall
conduct continuing education and training program for Civil Registrars, Consul Generals,
District Recorders, and Circuit Registrars and their staff, in collaboration with relevant
partners in government, academe, industry, and non-governmental organizations. Such
training programs shall be initiated, conducted based on Training Needs Analysis, and
evaluated regularly throughout the year to ensure constant upgrading of skills of the Civil
Registrars, Consul Generals, District Recorders, and Circuit Registrars, and their staff.

Section 35. Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS). There shall be established a
Barangay Civil Registration System where elected and appointed barangay officials shall be
mandated to assist in the facilitation of civil registration within their area or jurisdiction
‘subject to the provision of this Act.

The Civil Registrar General shall adopt a method in order to establish a systematic
procedure of recording in the barangay level enabling civil registration procedure a universal
ight of every Filipino.

The Barangay Captain shall submit to the CIVIL REGISTRAR’S OFFICE the names
of the Barangay Secretary as Ex-Officio Barangay Civil Registration Officer (BCRO) and
other deputized barangay officials as Barangay Civil Registration Assistant (BCRA) who
shall assist in the registration of all vital events of every individual within the area of
jurisdiction.

Proper networking and interconnectedness between the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S
OFFICE and the barangay shall be ensured in order to attain mandatory civil registration of
all born Filipinos. The PSA, LGUs, a national professional organization of local civil
registrars duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other
accredited government or private institutions shall conduct regular trainings and capacity
building programs to upgrade the knowledge and skills in civil registration functions of all
partners in the Barangay.

Section 36. Civil Registry Books. The Civil Registrar shall keep and preserve in their
offices the following books:

(a) Register of Births — the records of birth in the civil register;

(b) Register of Births of Person without known parents — the records of abandoned in the
civil register;


(c) Register of Deaths — the records of death of a deceased in the civil register;
(d) Register of Marriages — the records of solemnized marriage in the civil register;

(e) Register of Court Decrees or Orders — the records of court decree or order concerning
the status of a person in the civil register;

(f) Register of Legal Instruments — the records of legal instruments executed affecting the
Vital events of a person in the civil register,

(g) Register of Applications for Marriage License — the records of application for marriage
license in the civil register

(h) Register of Conversion to Islam — the records of conversion to Islam religion of a person
in the civil register;

(1) Register of Muslim Filipino Marriages — the records of marriage of a Muslim Filipino in the
civil register;

() Register of Muslim Filipino Divorces — the records of divorce of a Muslim Filipino in the
civil register,

(k) Register of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) Marriage
Dissolutions — the records of ICCs/IPs dissolution of marriage in the civil register; and

(!) Register of ICCs/IPs Revocation of Marriage Dissolutions — the records of ICCs/IPs
revocation of marriage dissolutions.

Section 37. Civil Registry Documents as Public Documents. The registry books making
up the civil register, the office files in hard copies and its corresponding digital files of the
CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICEs, certifications or certified copies from these files and all
other documents relating thereto shall be considered public documents and shall be prima
facie evidence of the truth of the facts therein contained. These public documents, except
those documents which are to be kept strictly confidential as provided for under this act and
other applicable laws shall be opened to the public during office hours and shall be kept in a
secured place which shall be furnished to civil registrar at the expenses of the funds of the
civil registrar's office, Philippine consulate office, or Shari'a court concerned.

The civil registrar shall not, under any circumstances, permit any document entrusted
to his care to be removed from his office, except upon lawful order of the court, in which
case the proper receipt shall be secured.

The civil registrar may issue certified copies of any document filed, upon payment of
proper fees fixed by law or the local ordinance.


Section 38. Expenses of the Office of the Civil Registrar. All expenses in connection
with the establishment and operation of the civil registrar's office shall be paid by the PSA,
‘the Philippine Consulate Office funds or the Shari'a court fund, as the case maybe, and for
this purpose, the necessary appropriations shall be provided for in the respective national
annual budget.

Section 39. Free Registration of Vital Civil Registry Events. The registration of births,
deaths, marriages and foundlings are hereby declared a national policy. Therefore, no fees
shall be imposed and collected in the registration of these events, whether or not these are
registered on time. All supporting documents as prerequisite to birth registration shall also
be free.

The first copies of civil registration certificates shall be free. For issuance of
succeeding copies of civil registry documents, a standard fee prescribed by the CRG shall
be collected.

For registration of registrable judicial and administrative issuances or orders, and
legal instruments, a standard fee shall be collected. The local government unit may collect
reasonable service fees and charges by virtue of an Ordinance for the purpose.

Section 40. Use of Fees and Income Collected. All fees that are remitted to the PSA by
the National Treasury and all income that the PSA is allowed to retain under law shall, any
provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, be used primarily for operating expenses
including capital outlay, upgrading of its current facilities, acquisition of office and space,
and establishment of satellite offices in the provinces, and other activities or services the
PSA in the performance of its mandate needs.

Section 41. Penal Provisions. Any person whose duty is to report any fact concerning the
civil status of persons and who knowingly fails to perform such duty, and person convicted
of having violated the provisions of this Act shall be punished in accordance with law.

Any person who shall knowingly make false statements in the forms furnished and
shall present the same for entry in the civil registers shall be penalized with imprisonment of
not less than six (6) months but not more than three (3) years and a fine of not less than
Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php 100,000.00) or both upon the discretion of the Court.

The attending physician, midwife, nurse, birth attendant, hospital administrator in-
charged to cause the registration of live births but knowingly fails or withholds the delivery of
copies of the certificate/s of live birth to the city or municipal civil registrar for registration, or
any person who caused the failure of delivery, shall be penalized by imprisonment of not
more than six (6) months and a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00),
or both, upon the discretion of the Court.

Any solemnizing officer without being authorized by the Civil Registrar General or
who, upon solemnizing marriage, refuses to exhibit his authority to solemnize marriage


when called upon to do so by the parties or parents, grandparents, guardians or persons
having charge of the parties; or any bishop or officer, priest, minister, or imam, of any
church, religion or sect, the regulations and practices whereof require bans or publication
previous to the solemnization of marriage that is subsequently declared illegal, or any
‘solemnizing officer in violation of this Act, shall be punished with imprisonment of not less
than six (6) months but not to exceed three (3) years, a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand
Pesos (Php 50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00),
or both, and the revocation of the authority to solemnize marriage, upon the discretion of the
Court.

Any solemnizing officer who fails to deliver copies of the certificate of marriage to the
city or municipal civil registrar or any circuit registrar who fails to deliver copies of the
certificate of marriage to the district registrar within the period fixed by law, shall be
punished by imprisonment of not more than six (6) months and a fine of not less than Fifty
Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00), or both, upon the discretion of the Court.

Section 42. Transitory Provisions. - The PSA shall carry out the reorganization of the civil
registrars in such a manner that personnel of such office absorbed by the PSA shall
continue to perform their respective duties and responsibilities in a holdover capacity so as
not to unduly delay the production of statistics from ongoing censuses, surveys and
Processing of administrative records.

Section 43. Early Retirement, Separation Pay and Other Benefits. — Affected personnel,
with appointments attested by the CSC, whether hired on a permanent or temporary basis, ,
and those hired on a casual or contractual basis, or personnel who will not be absorbed into
the new staffing pattern due to redundancy or failure to comply with the standards of
competence and proficiency, or who will be offered positions under the new staffing pattern
but who decline such appointment by reason of diminution in rank, benefits and work
conditions, or who are offered positions under the new staffing pattern without any
diminution in rank, benefits and work conditions but who decline such appointment, if
qualified, shall be given the option to avail themselves of any of the following, whichever is
beneficial to them:

(a) Retirement gratuity provided under Republic Act No. 1616 (An Act Further Amending
Section Twelve Of Commonwealth Act Numbered One Hundred Eighty-Six, As Amended,
By Prescribing Two Other Modes Of Retirement And For Other Purposes), as amended,
payable by the last employer of the affected personnel, plus the refund of retirement
premiums payable by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), without the
incentive herein provided

(b) Retirement benefit under Republic Act No. 660 (An Act To Amend Commonwealth Act
Numbered One Hundred And Eighty-Six, Entitled “An Act To Create And Establish A
Government Service Insurance System, To Provide For Its Administration, And To
Appropriate The Necessary Funds Therefor,” And To Provide Retirement Insurance And For
Other Purposes) or applicable retirement, separation or unemployment benefit provided
under Republic Act No. 8291 (An Act Amending Presidential Decree No. 1146, As


Amended, Expanding And Increasing The Coverage And Benefits Of The Government
Service Insurance System, Instituting Reforms Therein And For Other Purposes) if qualified,
plus the following applicable incentives:

(b.1.) 1/2 month of the present basic salary for every year of government service and a
fraction thereof, for those who have rendered twenty (20) years of service and below;

(b.2.) 3/4 month of the present basic salary for every year of government service and a
fraction thereof, computed starting from the 1st year, for those who have rendered twenty-
‘one (21) to less than thirty-one (31) years of service; and

(b.3.) 1 month of the present basic salary for every year of government service and a
fraction thereof, computed starting from the 1st year, for those who have rendered thirty-one
(31) years of service and above.

In addition, the affected personnel shall be entitled to the refund of Pag-IBIG contributions,
and the commutation of unused vacation and sick leave credits.

Section 44. Appropriations. There shall be an initial appropriation of One Hundred Fifty
Million Pesos (Php 150,000,000.00) in the General Appropriations Act, which will be
included in the PSA's budget for the initial development of software and the digitization of
the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE files.

Section 45. Mandatory Review. This Act shall undergo a mandatory review on its
provisions every ten (10) years to make the law more responsive to the needs of the times.
The review shall be made by Congress, which shall conduct public hearings and record
relevant testimonies of functionaries in the civil registration system, which shall be the basis
of any amendment or modification of this Act.

Section 46. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the PSA, shall promulgate the IRR for the effective implementation of
this Act. The PSA may consult with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of
Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of Social Welfare and
Development, National Commission of Muslim Filipinos, the Office of the Supreme Court
Administrator, the University of the Philippines Law Center, a national professional
organization of local civil registrars duly registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and such other agencies in the formulation of the IRR. Other relevant
stakeholders may also be consulted in the crafting of the IRR.

Section 47. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act which shall be held to
be invalid or unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby
‘shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section 48. Repealing Clause. Act No. 3753 or the Law on Registry of Civil Status is
repealed. Sec. 453, 454, and 479 of the RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991


are also hereby repealed. All other laws, rules, regulations, orders, memoranda or circulars
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.

Section 49. Retroactivity. This Act shall have retroactive effect insofar as it does not
prejudice or impair vested or acquired rights.

Section 50. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any newspapers of general circulation.

Approved