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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
3rd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative ERIC GO YAP 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the Article 7 (2) of the Family Code of the Philippines, "any priest, 
rabbi, imam, or minister of any church or religious sect duly authorized by his church 
or religious sect duly and registered with the civil registrar general, acting within the 
limits of the written authority granted 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" may solemnize marriage. 
This bill seeks to increase the validity of authorization to solemnize marriage 
of priests, ministers, or rabbis from three (3) to five (5) years, amending Republic Act 
No. 6514, otherwise known as An Act that the Authorization to Solemnize Marriage Issued 
to Priests, or Ministers or Rabbis shall be valid for a period of Three Years the same to Expire 
in the Thirty-First Day of December of Every Third Year, Amending for the Purpose Article 
Ninety-Five of the Civil Code of the Philippines and For Other Purposes. Further, it seeks to 
require the priests, ministers, or rabbis to undergo annual seminar throughout the 
whole duration of the validity of the authorization to solemnize marriage. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.  
ERIC GO YAP 
July 29, 2021
3:07 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
3rd Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative ERIC GO YAP 
AN ACT  
INCREASING THE VALIDITY OF AUTHORIZATION TO SOLEMNIZE 
MARRIAGE OF PRIESTS, MINISTERS, OR RABBIS FROM THREE (3) 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. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 6514 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"Section 1. Article 95 of Republic Act Numbered Three Hundred and eighty-six 
is hereby amended to read as follows:" 
"Art 95. The public official in charge of registration of priests, ministers or 
rabbis with the approval of the proper head of department, is hereby 
authorized to prepare the necessary forms and to promulgate rules and 
regulations for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Title: provided, 
that the authorization to solemnize marriages shall be valid for a period of 
[three] FIVE years, shall expire on the thirty-first day of December of every 
[third] FIFTH year, and shall be renewable within the said month of December: 
provided, further, that the authorizations to solemnize marriage issued prior 
to and valid on the date of the 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___," 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." 
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"PRIEST OR MINISTERS, OR RABBIS SHALL UNDERGO ANNUAL 
SEMINAR THROUGOUT THE WHOLE DURATION OF THE VALIDITY 
OF THE AUTHORIZATION TO SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGE." 
 
"The public official who is charge of registration may also by regulation fix and 
collect fees for the authorization to solemnize marriage" 
 
 
SEC. 2. Separability Clause. – In case any provision or any part thereof is 
declared unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared and affected shall 
remain in force and effect.  
 
 
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to the provisions 
of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,