NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Under the Article 165 of the Family Code of the Philippines, Children conceived and born 
outside a valid marriage are illegitimate, unless otherwise provided in this Code. 
Under the same law, there are prejudices or discriminatory provisions against an illegitimate 
child, who should not be faulted for being “illegitimate”. 
Some of these provisions include: 
-
Article 177 which provides that only children conceived and born outside of wedlock of
parents who, at the time of the conception of the former, were not disqualified by any
impediment to marry each other may be legitimated;
-
Article 176 as amended by RA 9255 which provides that illegitimate children shall use
the surname and shall be under the parental authority of their mother, and shall be
entitled to support in conformity with this Code. However, illegitimate children may use
the surname of their father if their filiation has been expressly recognized by the father
through the record of birth appearing in the civil register, or when an admission in a
public document or private handwritten instrument is made by the father. Provided, the
father has the right to institute an action before the regular courts to prove non-filiation
during his lifetime;
-
Article 176 also provides that the legitime of each illegitimate child shall consist of one-
half of the legitime of a legitimate child;
Also, under our laws, an adopted child, by legal fiction, becomes the legitimate child of the 
adopting parents and will have the same legitime as a legitimate child, which means he/she, 
even if not related by blood, will receive more compared to an illegitimate child who is related 
by blood.  
This bill seeks to address the situation that discriminates against the rights of children just 
because they are born out wedlock. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
March 6, 2023
11:05 am
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
AMENDING TITLE VI OF E.O. 209 AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FAMILY 
CODE BY REMOVING AND/OR ERASING CLASSIFICATION BETWEEN LEGITIMATE, 
ILLEGITIMATE AND LEGITIMATED (FILIATION OF) CHILDREN, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted in Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled. 
Section 1. Article 163 of the Family Code of the Philippines is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
Art. 163. The filiation of children may be by nature or by adoption. [Natural 
filiation may be legitimate or illegitimate.] 
Section 2. Articles 164, 165 168, 169, 170, 171, 173, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 and 
182 of the Family Code of the Philippines are hereby expressly repealed and abrogated. 
Section 3. Article 172 of the Family Code of the Philippines is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
Art. 172. The filiation of [legitimate] NATURAL children is established by 
any of the following: 
(1) The record of birth appearing in the civil register or a final judgment; or
(2) [An admission of legitimate filiation in a public document or a private
handwritten instrument and signed by the parent concerned.] AN
ADMISSION OF NATURAL FILIATION IN A PUBLIC DOCUMENT OR
PRIVATE HANDWRITTEN INSTRUMENT AND SIGNED BY THE
PARTIES CONCERNED
[In the absence of the foregoing evidence, the legitimate filiation shall be 
proved by:] 
[(1) The open and continuous possession of the status of a legitimate child; 
or] 
[(2)] (3) Any other means allowed by the Rules of Court and special laws. 
Section 4. Article 174 of the Family Code of the Philippines is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
Art. 174. [Legitimate] ALL children shall have the right: 
(1) To bear the surnames of the father and the mother, in conformity with
the provisions of the Civil Code [on Surnames] AND SPECIAL LAWS;
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(2) To receive support from their parents, their ascendants, and in proper 
cases, their brothers and sisters, in conformity with the provisions of [this 
Code on Support] THE FAMILY CODE; and 
 
(3) To be entitled to the legitimate and other successional rights granted to 
them by the Civil Code. 
 
Section 5. Repealing Clause - All other laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, issuances and 
rule and regulations or part thereof which are inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 6. Separability Clause - If any provision of this act is subsequently declared 
unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
 
Section 7. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days upon 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,