NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ] 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ] 
Third Regular Session 
]
25 ,IAN 14 P2:42
!’t:-
SENATE
S.B. No. 2914
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND RESPONSIVE CIVIL 
REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM, REPEALING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE ACT NO. 3753 OR THE PHILIPPINE LAW ON REGISTRY OF CIVIL 
STATUS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Through the years, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has been faced with 
significant challenges in implementing civil registation, especially now that around 3.7 
million Filipinos have been estimated to be without birth certificates. This constitutes 
3.4% of the total population based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing 
(CPH), disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.1 Of these 3.7 million 
Filipinos without birth certificates, 38% are children aged 0 to 14.2
Adding to this existing problem on non-registration of birth is the prevalence of 
fake birth certificates and abuse of the delayed birth registration system. The PSA has 
identified 14.9 million late birth registration submitted between 2010 and 2024, 
subject to review to verify authenticity.3 This includes the birth certificate of Bamban
1 Philippine Statistics Authority, PSA Strategy Bolsters Birth Registration in Asia and the Pacific; UNESCAP, PSA 
WEBSITE, at https://psa.qov.ph/content/psa-strateqv-bolsters-birth-reqistration-asia-and-pacific-unescap (last 
visited Dec. 1, 2024).
2 Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development, Civil Registration Bill pushed to help 3.7M 
Pinoys without birth certificates, PLCPD WEBSITE, at https://www.plcpd.orq.ph/civil-reqistration-bill-pushed-to- 
help-3-7m-pinovs-without-birth-certificates/ (last visited Dec. 1, 2024).
3 Izzy Lee, PSA discovers 14.89 million iate birth registrations, ABS-CBN NEWS, at https://www.abs- 
cbn.eom/news/2024/ll/7/psa-discovers-14-89-million-late-birth-reqistrations-2227 (last visited Dec. 1, 2024).


Mayor Alice Guo, whose birth certificate has been found to have discrepancies.4 As of 
date, the PSA has already blocked 1,627 suspicious birth certificates linked to foreign 
nationals, 18 of which have been endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) 
for cancellation. In addition, the PSA is auditing 50,532 birth certificates for signs of 
falsification and irregularities.5
The prevailing law on civil registration. Act No. 3753 or the Philippine Law on 
Registry of Civil Status, was enacted 94 years ago on November 26, 1930. The law 
needs to be updated as penalties for violations of the Act are too minimal and outdated 
at this point in time. For example, the act of knowingly making false statements in 
relation to civil registration is penalized only with imprisonment of one (1) month to 
six (6) months, or a fine of Two Hundred Pesos (Php 200.00) to Five Hundred Pesos 
(Php 500.00), or both,.6 Meanwhile, failure to report the occurrence of vital events by 
responsible informants under the Act is penalized with a fine of only Ten Pesos (Php 
10.00) to Two Hundred Pesos (Php 200.00).7
To align with international standards and recommendations in relation to civil 
registration, particularly Article 6 of the Universal of Human Rights (UDHR), and Article 
7 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), there is a 
need to revisit the existing law on civil registration in the country. This proposed 
measure aims to promote universal, free, and accessible civil registration through a 
modern and simplified registration system for vital events geared towards establishing 
the most precise identity of an individual for administrative and legal purposes.
To achieve this objective, this measure creates the Civil Registration Office 
under the PSA, which shall be responsible for the central registry document 
management and archiving, modernization of the Philippine civil registration and vital 
statistics (CRVS) system, policy development and advocacy on civil registration 
matters, and overseeing the performance of civil registration services. This measure 
also creates the Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee tasked with
4 Philstar, PSA flags irregularities in Bamban Mayor Alice Guo's birth certificate, PHILSTAR GLOBAL, at 
https://wvwv.Dhilstar.eom/headlines/2024/05/22/2357110/psa-flaos-irreQularities-bamban-mavor-alice-auos-
birth-certificate (last visited Dec. 1, 2024).
5 Lee, supra note 3.
6 Act No. 3753 (1991), § 16. Philippine Law on Registry of Civil Status.
7 Act No. 3753, § 17.


addressing specific concerns on the enforcement of CRVS laws, and establishing inter­
agency task forces at the regional, provincial, and city/municipal level to ensure 
nationwide coordination and enforcement.
To encourage universal registration of vital events, this measure ensures that 
the timely civil registration of vital events shall be completely free of charge. Taking 
into consideration Republic Act (RA) No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System 
Act, the PSA is mandated to assign a PhilSys Number (PSN) upon registration of birth, 
which shall be used by each registrant for the registration and reporting of all vital 
events. The PSA shall prescribe guidelines for the delayed registration of vital events, 
including the appearance of document owner, exceptional circumstances necessitating 
birth registration assistance programs, and imposition of standard fees for delayed 
registration, subject to waiver of fees where the applicant is an indigent, has limited 
access to registration services, and other similar circumstances.
Finally, this measure provides guidelines on multiple registration of vital events, 
including cancellation of civil registry documents through the Special Committee on 
cancellation of Civil Registry Documents. In order to curb the proliferation of fake birth 
certificates and other civil registry documents, as well as the abuse of the delayed 
birth registration process, this measure provides for higher penalties for several acts, 
including forgery of civil registry documents, submission of false information during 
civil registration, preparation or facilitating the preparation of civil registry documents 
containing false or fraudulent information, failure to report a vital event when required, 
and refusal of health facilities to report or cause the registration of a vital event due 
to non-payment of hospital fees. These reforms are necessary to ensure the easier 
and more accurate generation, recording, and retrieval of vital statistics of all persons 
in the Philippines and Filipino citizens abroad.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of th|5_cqeasure is earnestly
sought.
CHALIAN


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
S. B. No
SENATE
2914
<^5 JAN 14 P2:42
I'.l1
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND RESPONSIVE CIVIL 
REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM, REPEALING FOR 
THIS PURPOSE ACT NO. 3753 OR THE PHILIPPINE LAW ON 
REGISTRY OF CIVIL STATUS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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SEC. 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Civil
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Registration and Vital Statistics Act".
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy- The State shall promote and maintain
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an efficient, responsive, inclusive, and accessible civil registration and vital
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statistics (CRVS) system, as well as uphold a safe and systematic recording of
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vital events of an individual. It shall implement a modern and simplified
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registration procedure necessary to establish the most precise identity of an
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individual for administrative and legal purposes.
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This Act institutionalizes a CRVS system that provides universal, free,
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and accessible civil registration, and ensures easier generation, recording, and
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retrieval of vital statistics.
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The enactment of the Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act
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reaffirms the commitment of the State to international standards and
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recommendations, according to the principles of:


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(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
The universal human right to be recognized as a person before 
the law, as provided under Article 6 of the Universal Declaration 
of Human Rights (UDHR);
The right of the child to nationality and registration after birth, as 
provided under Article 7 of the United Nations Convention on the 
Rights of the Child (UNCRC);
The right to identity, as provided under Article 8 of the UNCRC; 
The right to be protected from discrimination based on race, sex, 
color, language, religion, national or social origin, as provided 
under Article 24 of the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights (ICCPR);
The right to nationality of persons with disabilities, as provided 
under Article 18 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with 
Disabilities (CRPD);
The right of adolescents to birth registration, as provided under 
General Comment No. 20, Article 8 of the UNCRC;
The right of children in street situations to be proactively 
supported to obtain legal identity documents and the right of all 
children at all ages to free, accessible, simple, and expeditious 
birth registration, as provided under General Comment No. 21, 
Article 15 of the UNCRC; and
The right of all Filipino migrant workers to be recognized as a 
person of the law, as provided under Article 24 of the 
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All 
Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICMW).
SEC. 3. Coverage. — This Act shall cover all acts, vital events, judicial
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decrees, and administrative issuances affecting the civil status of persons in the
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Philippines and Filipino citizens abroad.
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SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms
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are defined as follows:


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(a) 
Abandoned child refers to a child who has no proper parental 
care or guardianship, a foundling, or one who has been deserted 
by one's parents for a period of at least three (3) continuous 
months, and has been declared as such by the National Authority 
for Child Care (NACC).
(b) 
Abandoned Filipino child in a foreign country refers to an 
unregistered or undocumented child found outside the Philippine 
territory, with known or unknown facts of birth, separated from 
or deserted by the biological Filipino parent guardian, or 
custodian, for a period of at least three (3) continuous months 
and committed to a foreign orphanage or charitable institution or 
in a temporary informal care, and has been declared as such by 
the NACC, upon recommendation of the office of the Social 
Welfare Attache (OSWA) of the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD), or the Department of Foreign Affairs 
(DFA).
(c) 
Adoption refers to the socio-legal process of providing a 
permanent family to a child whose parents had voluntarily or 
involuntarily given up their parental rights, permanently 
transferring all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, 
making the child a legitimate child of the adoptive parents.
(d) 
Barangay Secretary refers to the person appointed by the 
Punong Barangay, in accordance with Section 394(a) of Republic 
Act (RA) No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.
(e) 
Cause of death refers to diseases, morbid conditions, or injuries, 
which either resulted in or contributed to the death, and the 
circumstances of the accident or violence which produced such 
injuries, for purposes of registration, aligned with International 
Classification Standards;
(f) 
Child refers to any person below 18 years of age, or 18 years or 
older who is unable to fully take care of oneself from abuse.


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neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a 
physical or mental disability or condition.
(g) 
Civil registration refers to the continuous, permanent, 
universai, and compuisory recording of occurrences and 
characteristics of vitai events in the life of a person, including any 
modifications thereto until death.
(h) 
Civil register refers to the various civil registry books, and 
related certificates and documents, including physical, electronic, 
and digital copies, where registrable acts, events, judicial decrees, 
and administrative issuances concerning the civil status of a 
person are recorded and kept in the archives of Local Civil 
Registry Officers, Philippine Foreign Service Posts, Shari'a District 
and Circuit Courts, and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
(i) 
Civil Registrar refers to the head of the Local Civil Registry 
Office, the Clerk of Court in a Shari'a District or Circuit Court, or 
the Consul General in Philippine Foreign Service Posts doing civil 
registration functions.
(j) 
Civil registry document refers to a certificate or any document, 
including electronic or digital copies thereof, concerning acts and 
events affecting the civii status of persons, which are recorded 
and kept in the civil register.
(k) 
Consul General refers to an official of the Department of 
Foreign Affairs (DFA) who has been issued a consular commission 
and acts as the head of a consular post or the head of the 
consular section of an embassy, and entrusted in that capacity 
with the exercise of diplomatic and consular functions, including 
civil registration duties;
(l) 
Consul/Vice Consul refers to an official of the DFA who has 
been issued a consular commission and entrusted in that capacity 
with the exercise of diplomatic and consular functions. In 
exigencies, the civil registration duties herein provided for the


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Consul General may be delegated to, and can be exercised and 
performed by, the Consul or Vice Consul.
(m) 
Death refers to the permanent disappearance of all evidence of 
life at any time after live birth has taken place.
(n) 
Document owner refers to the individual whose legal identity 
and other vital statistics are recorded in the civil registry 
document or iegal instrument in accordance with this Act.
(o) 
Divorce refers to the final legal dissolution of marriage which 
confers on the parties the right to remarriage under Presidential 
Decree (PD) No. 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the 
Philippines.
(p) 
Fetal death refers to death prior to the complete expulsion or 
extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective 
of the duration of the pregnancy, where the death is indicated by 
the fact that after such separation, the fetus does not breathe or 
show any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, 
pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary 
muscles.
(q) 
Philippine Foreign Service Post refers to all Philippine 
embassies, missions, consulates general, and other foreign 
service establishments maintained by the DFA.
(r) 
Foundling refers to a deserted or abandoned child or infant with 
unknown facts of birth and parentage. This shall also include 
those who have been duly registered as a foundling during their 
infancy and/or childhood, and have reached the age of majority 
without benefitting from adoption procedures.
(s) 
Health facility refers to facilities or institutions, whether 
stationary or mobile, land-based or otherwise, that provides 
diagnostics, therapeutic, rehabilitative, and other healthcare 
services, except medical radiation facilities and hospital-based or 
stand-alone pharmacies.


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(t) 
Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs)/Indigenous 
Peoples (IPs) refer to a group of people or homogenous 
societies identified by self-ascription and ascription by others, 
who have continuously lived as organized community on 
communally bounded and self-defined territory, and who have, 
under claims of ownership since time immemorial, occupied, 
possessed, and utilized such territories, sharing common bonds 
of language, customs, traditions, and other distinctive cultural 
traits, or who have, through resistance to political, social, and 
cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and 
cultures, became historically differentiated from the majority of 
Filipinos. ICCs/IPs shall likewise include people who are regarded 
as indigenous on account of their descent, but who may have 
been displaced from their traditional domains or who may have 
resettled outside their ancestral domains.
(u) 
Legal instrument refers to registrable instruments issued 
pursuant to this Act, affecting the civil status of persons and 
executed without a court decree/order.
(v) 
Live birth refers to the complete expulsion or extraction of a 
product of conception from its mother, which after such 
separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as 
beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite 
movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical 
cord has been cut off or the placenta is still attached.
(w) 
Manner of death refers to the circumstances in which a death 
arose, as stated in the medical certification of cause of death.
(x) 
Mass death occurs when several persons die due to natural 
calamities, accidents, epidemics, or other analogous 
circumstances.
(y) 
Muslim marriage refers to a marriage where both parties are 
Muslims, or where only the male party is a Muslim and the


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marriage is soiemnized in accordance with Muslim law or PD No. 
1083.
(z) Next-of-kin refers to the closest surviving relative of the 
document owner.
(aa) Out-of-Town Reporting refers to the presentation to the civil 
registrar of a city or municipality which is not the place of birth or 
death for purposes of forwarding to the civil registrar of the city 
or municipality where the birth or death occurred.
(bb) PhilSys Number (PSN) refers to a unique and randomly 
generated permanent identification number assigned to every 
citizen or resident alien upon successful registration to the 
Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).
(cc) Solemnizing officer refers to any person who may solemnize a 
marriage, as provided in Executive Order (EO) No. 209 or the 
Family Code of the Philippines, and PD No. 1083.
(dd) Verbal autopsy refers to a structured questionnaire or interview 
on a deceased's medical history, as well as signs and symptoms 
prior to death, that is completed by a reliable next-of-kin to 
determine a probable cause of death in deaths that are not 
medically attended.
(ee) Vital event refers to an event concerning life and death of 
individuals, as well as their family and civil status, including live 
birth, death, fetal death, marriage, annulment or declaration of 
nullity of marriage, divorce, adoption, and recognition of 
paternity.
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SEC. 5. Implementing Agency. - The PSA, headed by the National
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Statistician and Civil Registrar General (NSCRG), shall be the primary
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implementing agency of this Act. The PSA shall issue rules in the
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implementation and enhancement of the civil registration and vital statistics
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(CRVS) system, including, but not limited to, registration, copy issuance, and


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data governance in accordance with the provisions of this Act, including all
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other applicable laws and policies.
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The PSA shall collaborate with local government units (LGUs), other
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government agencies, and government-owned and -controlled corporations
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(GOCCs) in order to facilitate the registration or reporting of ali vitai events of
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persons in the country and Filipinos abroad.
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SEC. 6. Civil Registration Office. - To better implement the
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provisions of this Act, and attain its objectives and purposes, the Civil
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Registration Service shall be reorganized and strengthened into the Civil
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Registration Office which shall perform the functions provided under this Act.
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The Civil Registration Office shall be headed by a Deputy Civil Registrar
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General with rank equivalent to a Deputy National Statistician. The Deputy Civil
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Registrar General shall be responsible for central registry document
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management and archiving, modernization of the Philippine CRVS system,
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policy development and advocacy on civil registration matters, and overseeing
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the performance of civil registration services.
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The following Services shall be created under the Civil Registration
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Office, each of which shall be headed by an Assistant Civil Registrar General
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with rank equivalent to an Assistant National Statistician:
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(a) 
National Civil Register Service;
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(b) 
Civil Registration Operations and Management Service; and
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(c) 
Civil Registration Advocacy and Frontline Services.
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SEC. 7. Creation of Regional and Field Offices for Civil
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Registration. - To perform the functions provided under this Act, the regional
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and field offices of the PSA shall be strengthened through the creation of new
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plantilia positions, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.
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SEC. 8. Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee.
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- A Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee shall be created, to
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be composed of the following:


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(a)
The PSA, represented by the Deputy Civil Registrar General, as
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chairperson;
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DOH
representative with rank of at least director as vice-
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chairperson; and
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(c)
One (1) representative from each of the following agencies with
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rank of at least director, nominated by their respective agencies.
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with two (2) permanent staff members as designated alternate
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representatives:
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(1)
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA);
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Department of Justice (DOJ);
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Department of Education (DepEd);
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Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
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Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);
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Commission on Population and Development;
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
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represented by the National Authority for Child Care
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(NACC);
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(8)
Philippine National police (PNP);
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(9)
Commission on Election (COMELEC);
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(10)
Bureau of Immigration (BI);
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(11)
Department of Information and Communications
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Technology (DICT);
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(12)
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
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(BARMM);
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(13)
National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF);
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(14)
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); and
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National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
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The
Civil
Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee may
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establish technical working groups and task forces, and invite other members
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or participants, as the need arises, to address specific concerns on the
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enforcement of CRVS laws, as well as establish inter-agency task forces at the


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regional, provincial, and city/municipal level to ensure nationwide coordination
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and enforcement.
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SEC. 9. Powers and Functions of the National Statistician and 
Civil Registrar General (NSCRG). - The National Statistician and Civil 
Registrar General shall enforce the provisions of this Act and its implementing 
rules and regulations. The NSCRG shall have the following powers and 
functions:
(a) 
Maintain the National Civil Register;
(b) 
Maintain the National Register for Solemnizing Officers;
(c) 
Enforce the provisions of this Act and other laws on CRVS;
(d) 
Exercise technical control and supervision over civil registrars, in 
the exercise of their civil registration functions;
(e) 
Issue certificates and certifications of entries in civil registers 
maintained by the office in accordance with the provisions of this 
Act and upon payment of the prescribed fees;
(f) 
Assign a PhilSys Number (PSN) upon registration of birth, which 
shall be used by each registrant for the registration and reporting 
of all vital events;
(g) 
Develop modules and training programs for stakeholders involved 
in providing civil registration services;
(h) 
Establish and implement strategies and mechanisms to ensure 
the accessibility of civil registration services;
(i) 
Develop and adopt appropriate technology to facilitate and 
improve access to modernize the Philippine CRVS system and to 
improve access to and efficiency of civil registration services;
(j) 
Issue guidelines on reconstruction of burned, destroyed, and lost 
civil registry records;
(k) 
In cases of nationai calamity or disasters, coordinate with the 
national, regional, or local disaster risk reduction and 
management council to ensure continuity or resumption of civil 
registration services;
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Conduct a comprehensive and nationwide information, education,
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and communications campaign regarding this Act;
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(m) 
Deny request for copy issuance of civil registry documents and
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certificates found to be fraudulent and/or fictitious, except for
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investigation purposes by law enforcement agencies and other
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government agencies with investigative and/or quasi-judicial
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powers, and court orders, in accordance with this Act, RA No.
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10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and other relevant laws,
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rules, and regulations;
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Block civil registry documents in the database upon findings of
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fraud and unblock civil registry documents pursuant to a court or
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administrative order;
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(o) 
Ensure accuracy of annotation in civil registry documents,
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including modification, revision, and correction of clerical errors
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in the annotation of administrative decisions, court decrees, and
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legal instruments;
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(p) 
Issue regulations on the reporting and registration of vital events
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of Filipinos abroad, in coordination with the DFA;
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(q) 
Exercise quasi-judicial functions in accordance with this Act;
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(r) 
Exercise inspection and visitorial functions over stakeholders
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exercising civil registration functions;
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(s) 
Issue rules and regulations to enforce the provisions this Act and
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other applicable laws on civil registration; and
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(t) 
Perform such other functions necessary to implement this Act.
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SEC. 10. Technical Control and Supervision. - The NSCRG shall
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have technical control and supervision over civil registrars and such other
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officers designated by law to perform civil registration functions, and shall:
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(a) 
Issue rules, regulations, guidelines, criteria, and standard
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operating procedures to guide the performance of civil
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registration functions of civil registrars and such other officers
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designated by law to perform civil registration functions;
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(b) Review motu proprio and declare ultra vires acts or omissions of
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civii registrars and such other officers designated by law, in the
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exercise of their civii registration functions, and order modification
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of such acts or omissions; and
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(c) 
Issue poiicies, rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of
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this Act and other laws on CRVS, including the standardization of
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CRVS processes and procedures, and prescribe the necessary
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forms for proper compiiance with reievant laws and regulations.
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SEC. 11. Quasi-Judida!Function. - The NSCRG shall have the power
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to review decisions rendered over the following:
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(a) Appeal/reconsideration of decisions regarding petitions under RA
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No. 9048, as amended by RA No. 10172;
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(b) Application/cancellation of Certificates of Authority to Solemnize
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Marriage (CRASM);
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Decisions rendered by Locai Civil Registrars (LCRs) on Petitions
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for Cancellation of Certificate of Live Birth of Persons with No
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Known Parents, as provided under RA No. 11767 or the Foundling
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Recognition and Protection Act; and
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(d) 
Other analogous cases as may be provided under this Act and
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other relevant laws.
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To better implement the provisions of this Act and attain its objectives
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and purposes, the Legal Service of the PSA shail be reorganized and
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strengthened into a Legal Office, which shaii be responsibie for the NSCRG's
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exercise of quasi-judicial functions.
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The Legal Office of the PSA shall be headed by a Director V. There shall
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be three (3) Services under the Director V, each headed by Director IV:
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(a) 
Legal Operations and Administrative Support Service;
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(b) 
Litigation and Enforcement Management Service; and
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(c) 
Legislative Affairs and Regulatory Compliance Service.
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SEC. 12. Investigative Power of NSCRG. - The NSCRG, in the
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exercise of its investigative powers, shaii:
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(a) 
Conduct investigations in relation to violations of this Act, as well
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as irregularities, negligence, or incompetence of civil registrars
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and such other officers designated by law, in the exercise of their
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civil registration functions;
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Take action on and/or report any violation of the provisions of
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this Act, including the acts and omissions of civil registrars and
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such other officers designated by law, in the exercise of their civil
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registration functions; and
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(c) 
Cause the filing of the necessary civil, criminal, and/or civil actions
10 
for violations of this Act and other relevant laws and regulations
11 
on CRVS.
12 
SEC. 13. Oversight Power of NSCRG. — The NSCRG, in the exercise
13 
of its oversight power, shall review policies, programs, and projects
14 
implemented by civil registrars and such other officers designated by law, in
15 
the exercise of their civil registration functions. The NSCRG shall likewise ensure
16 
compliance with existing policies, laws, regulations, and ethical standards in
17 
relation to civil registration.
18 
SEC. 14. Appointment of Locai Civii Registrar (LCR). - The
19 
appointment of a Local Civil Registrar shall be mandatory for all city and
20 
municipal governments. The LCR shall be responsible for the civil registration
21 
programs in the concerned LGU, in accordance with this Act and other existing
22 
laws, rules, and regulations.
23 
The NSCRG shall choose the LCR to be appointed from a list of eligible
24 
candidates submitted by the Local Chief Executive. To instill a culture of
25 
professionalism, excellence, integrity, and proficiency in the performance of
26 
civil registry functions, the criteria for evaluation shall include educational
27 
background, experience on civil registration work, work performance, and
28 
relevant. The administrative supervision over LCRs shall remain with the Local
29 
Chief Executive concerned.
30 
Temporary appointment of LCRs shall only be allowed in the absence of
31 
any eligible candidate from the list submitted by the Local Chief Executive:
13


1 
Provided, That the LCR temporarily appointed shall substantially meet the
2 
criteria under this provision; Provided, further. That such temporary
3 
appointment shall not exceed a period of one (1) year.
4 
SEC. 15. Duties and Responsibilities of the LCR. - The LCR shall
5 
develop plans and strategies for the effective implementation of this Act,
6 
subject to the approval of the Local Chief Executive, without prejudice to the
7 
NSCRG's exercise of its oversight powers under Section 13 of this Act.
8 
For purposes of this Act, the LCR shall:
9
(a)
Verify correctness and completeness of information reported for
10
registration;
11
(b)
Accept for registration reports of vital events, court decrees, and
12
legal instruments affecting the status of persons in accordance
13
with this Act;
14
(c)
Maintain and preserve civil registry books, documents, and/or
15
electronic copies as required by this Act and other relevant laws.
16
rules, and regulations;
17
(d)
Receive applications for marriage license and issue the same in
18
accordance with law;
19
(e)
Transmit to the NSCRG copies of civil registry documents in the
20
form and manner prescribed by the NSCRG;
21
(f)
Issue certified copies of any registered certificates or documents
22
in accordance with this Act and upon payment of the prescribed
23
fees;
24
(g)
Act on petitions for revocation of certificates of live birth of
25
persons with no known parents under RA No. 11767;
26
(h)
Administer oaths for civil registration purposes, free of charge;
27
0)
Delegate powers and responsibilities to, and supervise staff, in
28
performing civil registration functions, except the power to
29
administer oaths;
14


1 
(j) 
Adopt mechanisms to improve access to civil registration services
2 
in their locality, in coordination with the NSCRG and upon
3 
approval of the Local Chief Executive;
4 
(k) 
Annually collate records of inhabitants from barangay secretaries
5 
or through the Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS) and, as
6 
needed, seek assistance from Barangay Secretaries in the
7 
registration of births, deaths, and marriages;
8 
(I) 
Coordinate with the Civil Registration Office of the PSA in
9 
conducting information, education, and awareness campaigns for
10 
civil registration, and assist in the preparation of demographic
11 
information and other statistics for the LGU concerned; and
12 
(m) 
Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and
13 
functions as may be prescribed by law.
14 
SEC. 16. Duties and Responsibilities of the Shari'a District
15 
Registrar. - The Clerk of Court of the Shari'a District Court shall, in addition
16 
to their regular functions, act as District Registrar of Muslim marriages,
17 
divorces, revocations of divorces, and conversions within the territorial
18 
jurisdiction of the said court.
19 
Every District Registrar shall exercise supervision over Shari'a Circuit
20 
Registrars and shall, in addition to maintaining an entry book, maintain copies
21 
of certificates of marriage, divorce, revocation of divorce, and conversion
22 
received from Shari'a Circuit Registrars in separate general registers. The
23 
District Registrar shall transmit copies of such civil registry documents to the
24 
NSCRG in the form and manner prescribed by the NSCRG.
23 
SEC. 17. Duties and Responsibilities of the Shari'a Circuit
26 
Registrar. — The Clerk of Court of the Shari'a Circuit Court shall act as Circuit
27 
Registrar of Muslim marriages, divorces, revocation of divorces, and
28 
conversions within the territorial jurisdiction of the said court. For this purpose,
29 
the Circuit Registrar shall:
15


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(a) 
Register and file certificates of Muslim marriage, divorce, 
revocation of divorce, and conversion, and such other documents 
presented for registration;
(b) 
Issue certified copies of any certificate or document registered by 
their office in accordance with this Act and upon payment of 
prescribed fees;
(c) 
Compile certificates of Muslim marriage, divorce, revocation of 
divorce, and conversion, and transmit the same to the Shari'a 
District Registrar in the manner and form prescribed by the 
NSCRG; and
(d) 
Administer oaths for civil registration purposes, free of charge.
SEC. 18. Duties and Responsibilities of Consul 
Generai/Consui/Vice Consul. - The Consul General/Consul/Vice Consul 
within the Philippine Foreign Service Posts shall:
(a) 
Receive reports or records of vital events of Filipinos occurring 
abroad or while in transit to a foreign destination;
(b) 
Register vital events of Filipinos occurring within Philippine 
Foreign Service Posts;
(c) 
Submit copies of reported vital events to the NSCRG regularly;
(d) 
Maintain registry books of reported and registered vital events of 
Filipinos; and
(e) 
Facilitate the registration of undocumented Filipinos and Filipinos 
at risk of statelessness abroad, in coordination with the NSCRG.
SEC. 19. CivH Registry Books. — The civil registry books making up 
the Civil Register under this Act, and all records relating thereto, shall be 
considered public documents and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts 
contained therein.
In case of discrepancy between civil registry documents issued by LCRs, 
Circuit/District Registrars, or Consul General/Consul/Vice Consul, and the civil 
registry documents issued by the NSCRG, the latter shall prevail.
16


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
Every LCR shall maintain, keep, and preserve in a secured place in their 
office the following registry books where they shall properly enter the acts, 
events, and judicial decrees concerning the civil status of persons:
(a) Register of births;
Register of foundlings or persons with no known parents; 
Register of deaths;
Register of fetal deaths;
Register of marriages;
Register of court decrees/orders;
Register of legal instruments;
Register of applications for marriage license; and 
Register of administrative orders.
The Shari'a Circuit Registrar shall maintain, keep, and preserve in a 
secured place in their office the following registry books where they shall 
properly enter the acts, events, and judicial decrees concerning the civil status 
of persons, in accordance with PD No. 1083:
(a) Register of Muslim marriages;
Register of Muslim divorces;
Register of revocations of Muslim divorces;
Register of conversions to Islam;
Register of revocations of conversion to Islam; and 
Register of court decrees/orders.
Philippine Foreign Service Posts shall maintain the following registers: 
(a) Register of marriage between Filipinos, celebrated within Foreign 
Service Posts;
Register of births of foundlings or persons with no known parents; 
and
Register of legal instruments.
In addition to the registers cited above, Phiiippine Foreign Service Posts 
shall maintain databases for the following:
(a) 
Reports of birth;
(b) 
Reports of death;
17
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(b)
(c)


1
(C)
Reports of marriages; and
2
(d)
Reports of legal instruments.
3
The NSCRG may prescribe additional registers for other registrable
4
documents.
5
SEC. 20. Operative Act of Registration. - Unless otherwise provided
6
in this Act, civil registrars shall register a vital event upon ensuring that:
7
(a)
The appropriate form is used, and the form is properly and
8
completely accomplished;
9
(b)
All required documents are submitted;
10
(c)
The information provided is complete and correct based on the
11
documents submitted, including but not iimited to the identity and
12
dvii status of the persons invoived; and
13
(d)
Based on available information, the vital event has not been
14
previously registered.
15
When all the foregoing conditions are present, the presumption of
16
regularity on the performance of the duty of civil registrars shall apply.
17
SEC. 21. Registration of Court Decree/Order. - Judidai decrees
18
concerning the civil status of persons shall be recorded in the Civil Register.
19
The following are registrable court decrees/orders:
20
(a)
Judicial adoption;
21
(b)
Rescission of judicial adoption;
22
(c)
Annulment of marriage;
23
(d)
Declaration of nullity of marriage;
24
(e)
Declaration of presumptive death;
25
(f)
Compulsory recognition of illegitimate child;
26
(g)
Voluntary recognition of minor illegitimate child;
27
(h)
Appointment of guardian;
28
(i)
Termination of guardianship;
29
(j)
Judicial determination of filiation;
30
(k)
Judicial naturalization;
31
(1)
Judicial cancellation of naturalization;
18


1 
(m) Judicial determination of the fact of reappearance, if disputed;
2 
(n) 
Separation of property;
3 
(o) 
Revival of former property regime;
4 
(p) 
Correction/cancellation of entries in the Civil Register;
5 
(q) 
Recognition of foreign court orders; and
6 
(r) 
Other court decrees/orders that pertain to the civil status and vital
7 
statistics of a person.
8 
The civil registrar shall properly enter the registrable events and court
9 
decrees/orders, as well as final decisions on administrative adoption and other
10 
orders/decree affecting civil status of persons rendered by quasi-judicial bodies.
11 
SEC. 22. Free Civil Registration Services. — The timely civil
12 
registration of vital events shall be completely free of charge. No fees for
13 
processing or for the preparation of supporting documents, including
14 
miscellaneous and computer fees, shall be imposed: Provided, That in case of
15 
late or delayed registration of births, deaths, or marriages, a processing fee
16 
may be charged, subject to limits prescribed by the NSCRG.
17 
Upon registration of the vital event, the applicant shall be given a
18 
personal copy of the civil registry document free of charge. Succeeding copies
19 
of birth, death, marriage certificates, and other civil registry documents may be
20 
issued upon payment of fees as prescribed by the NSCRG.
21 
SEC. 23. Place of Registration. - Unless otherwise provided in this
22 
Act, vital events occurring in the Philippines shall be registered in the city or
23 
municipality where said vital event occurred.
24 
SEC. 24. Reporting of Vita! Events Occurring Abroad. - All vital
25 
events occurring to Filipinos residing abroad, whether permanently or
26 
temporarily, shall be reported to the Philippine Foreign Service Posts of the
27 
country of residence or where the vital event took place. If there is no Philippine
28 
Foreign Service Post located in the country of residence or where the vital event
29 
took place, such vital event shall be reported in the Philippine Foreign Service
19


1 
Post of the country nearest the place of residence of the party concerned or
2 
where the vital event occurred.
3 
SEC. 25. Out-of-Town Reporting and Special Circumstances. -
4 
The NSCRG shall issue guidelines on out-of-town reporting and registration of
5 
vital events, and the registration of vital events in special circumstances as
6 
defined in this Act, including but not limited to those vital events occurring
7 
abroad and the parties are already residing in the Philippines, as well as vital
8 
events occurring in the Philippines and the parties are already residing abroad.
9 
SEC. 26. Mandatory Continuing Education and Training
10 
Program. - To ensure the efficient and effective delivery of civil registration
11 
services, the NSCRG, in coordination with LGUs, the Supreme Court, the DFA,
12 
and other relevant stakeholders, shall conduct continuing education and
13 
training program for LCRs, Shari'a District/Circuit Registrars, Consul
14 
Generals/Consuls/Vice Consuls, their staff, and all barangay officials under
15 
Section 27 of this Act. Such training programs shall be initiated and conducted
16 
based on Training Needs Analysis, and evaluated regularly throughout the year
17 
by the NSCRG, through the Civil Registration Office.
18 
In addition to civil registrars, all physicians shall be required to undergo
19 
training on their duties and responsibilities in relation to civil registration,
20 
including on medical certification of cause of death. The Department of Health
21 
(DOH) shall provide capacity building for local health officers, physicians, and
22 
other members of the health sector on their duties and responsibilities in
23 
relation to civil registration. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall
24 
likewise ensure that birth registration, death registration, and medical
25 
certification of cause of death are integrated in the curriculum of all medical
26 
schools in the Philippines.
27 
SEC. 27. Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS). - There
28 
shall be a Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS) established by the
29 
Barangay Captain, in consultation with the LCR, where elected and appointed
30 
barangay officials shall be mandated to assist in the facilitation of civil
20


1 
registration within their area or jurisdiction, as provided under Section
2 
394(d)(5) of RA No. 7160, and in accordance with this Act and the procedures
3 
prescribed by the NSCRG.
4 
The Barangay Captain shall submit to the Local Civil Registrar's Office
5 
(LCRO) the names of the Barangay Secretary as Ex-Officio Barangay Civil
6 
Registration Officer (BCRO) and other deputized barangay officials as Barangay
7 
Civil Registration Assistant (BCRA) who shall assist in the registration of all vital
8 
events within their jurisdiction.
9 
The LCRO shall engage barangays in the implementation of this Act,
10 
including the provision of fiscal and budgetary support.
11 
CHAPTER 1.
12 
Registration and Certification of Birth
13 
SEC. 28. Mandatory Registration of Live Birth. - All live births
14 
occurring within the Philippines shall be registered in accordance with this Act:
15 
Provided, That the birth of a fetus with an intrauterine life of less than seven
16 
(7) months that dies within twenty-four (24) hours after its complete delivery
17 
from the maternal womb shall be reported for statistical purposes, but shall not
18 
be entered in the register of live births; Provided, further. That a fetus with an
19 
intrauterine life of seven (7) months or more and born alive at the time it was
20 
completely delivered from the maternal womb, but died later, shall be
21 
considered a live birth and shall be registered in the register of births and
22 
register of deaths accordingly.
23 
SEC. 29. Persons Responsibie for Reporting A Live Birth. - The
24 
following persons and institutions shall be responsible for reporting a live birth
25 
occurring within the Philippines to the LCR:
26 
(a) The administrator of a health facility, physician, or midwife, who
27 
attended the birth, in such order, for live births that occur in a
28 
health facility;
29 
(b) The physician, nurse, midwife, or any person who attended to the
30 
birth, for live births that occur outside a health facility; and
21


1 
(c) In the absence of (a) or (b), the mother of the child, the father
2 
of the child, or next-of-kin; or
3 
(d) The Barangay Secretary or deputized BCRAs, through the BCRS.
4 
The declaration of the following persons shall be sufficient for purposes
5 
of registration:
6 
(a) 
Either parent of the newborn child born within a valid marriage;
7 
(b) 
The mother or, in her absence, the guardian, in case of a child
8 
born outside a valid marriage;
9 
(c) 
Any responsible person who has knowledge of the facts of birth;
10 
or
11 
(d) The person, upon reaching the age of majority.
12 
SEC. 30. Persons Responsible for Reporting A Live Birth Under
13 
Special Circumstances. - The following persons shall be responsible for
14 
informing a live birth occurring under special circumstances:
15 
(a) The driver of a vehicle, captain of a vessel, or pilot of an airplane,
16 
as the case may be, and the parents of the child, in case of a live
17 
birth that occurs aboard a vehicle, vessel, or airplane while in
18 
transit;
19 
(b) The imam, priest, religious leader, village chief, or community or
20 
tribal leader for a live birth that occurs within the religious or
21 
indigenous cultural community or, in default thereof, either
22 
parent of the child in accordance with this Act; or
23 
(c) 
The head of the facility that has custody over the mother for live
24 
births occurring while the mother is in state custody.
25 
The NSCRG shall issue guidelines on the registration of live births under
26 
special circumstances.
27 
SEC. 31. Duty to Report Live Birth. - It shall be the duty of the
28 
informants mentioned under this Act to report a live birth within thirty (30)
29 
calendar days from the date of the live birth, or from knowledge thereof, in
30 
accordance with Sections 23 to 25 of this Act.
22


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
SEC. 32. Duty to Keep Records of Birth. — All health facilities shall 
submit to the LCR a record of ali births occurring in such facilities, which shall 
contain information required for registration, including but not limited to the 
name of the child, the parents, the medical attendant at birth, and the date of 
submission of registration documents to the LCR.
SEC. 33. Registration of Foundiings or Persons with No Known 
Parents. — The registration of foundlings or persons with no known parents 
shall be governed by the relevant provisions of RA No. 11767, its implementing 
rules and regulations, and other relevant issuances.
SEC. 34. Live Births in Indigenous Cuiturai 
Ccmmunities/Indigenous Peopies (ICC/IPs). - The NSCRG, in 
coordination with the NCIP, shall prescribe guidelines for the registration of the 
ethnic or indigenous affiliation of a child and their parents, and for the recording 
of names of children in accordance with the naming conventions of their 
respective ICCs.
SEC. 35. Live Births of Musiim Fiiipinos, - The NSCRG, in 
coordination with the NCMF, shall prescribe guidelines for the registration of 
Muslim Filipinos, and for the recording of names of children in accordance with 
the naming conventions of Muslim Fiiipinos.
SEC. 36. Strict Confidentiaiity 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 document owner, or any person authorized by them;
Legal spouse;
The parents, direct descendants, or the guardian or institution 
iegally in charge, in case the document owner is a minor;
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
23
(b)
(c)
(d)


1 
(e) The next-of-kin, in case of a person's death.
2 
CHAPTER II
3 
Registration of Deaths and Fetal Deaths
4 
SEC. 37. Mandatory Registration of Death. - Aii deaths that occur
5 
within the Phiiippines shaii be registered with the LCR in the city or municipaiity
6 
where the death occurred within thirty (30) days from the time of death, in
7 
accordance with this Act.
8 
SEC. 38. Registration of Fetai Death. - Fetai deaths shall be
9 
registered with the LCR in the city or municipality where the death occurred
10 
within thirty (30) days from the time of death, in accordance with this Act.
11 
SEC. 39. Registration of Mass Death. - Where the deceased cannot
12 
be identified, the Local Health Officer, pursuant to existing guidelines and in
13 
the exercise of their discretion, may issue and cause the registration of the
14 
death certificate bearing the annotation "Body Not Identified". The NSCRG shall
15 
issue guidelines on the registration of mass deaths.
16 
SEC. 40. Permit to Dispose of Dead Bodies. - No remains shall be
17 
buried, cremated, donated, transferred, or otherwise disposed of without a
18 
permit to dispose of dead bodies issued by the Local Health Officer in the city
19 
or municipality where the decedent died. A permit to dispose of human remains
20 
shall only be issued upon the submission of the duly accomplished death
21 
certificate to the Local Health Officer. In the case of medicolegal deaths, such
22 
permit shall only be issued upon approval of the Medicolegal Officer conducting
23 
the medicolegal death investigation.
24 
The DOH shall, in coordination with the NSCRG and the DILG, establish
25 
mechanisms for adoption of Local Health Officers to ensure that there is no
26 
interruption of services on weekends, holidays, and instances of absence of a
27 
Local Health Officer, such as:
24


1 
(a) Assignment of a Provincial Health Officer or Local Health Officer
2 
of a contiguous city or municipality in case of absence of the Local
3 
Health Officer;
4 
(b) Temporary appointment of a government physician to perform
5 
the functions of the Local Health Officer under this Act; or
6 
(c) 
Enabling reporting of deaths to Barangay Secretaries during
7 
weekends or holidays: Provided, That the cause of death has
8 
been determined and certified in accordance with this Act, and
9 
that the death is immediately reported to the Local Health Officer.
10 
SEC. 41. Persons Responsible for Reporting A Death. - The
11 
following shall be responsible for reporting a death occurring within the
12 
Philippines in accordance with this Act:
13 
(a) The head of the heaith facility, or the physician who last attended
14 
to the deceased, for deaths occurring in a health facilities;
15 
(b) The physician who attended to the deceased during their last
16 
illness, or in their absence, the next-of-kin, or in their default, any
17 
person who has knowledge of the death, for deaths occurring
18 
outside health facilities; or
19 
(c) 
Medicolegal officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the
20 
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for medicolegal deaths
21 
reported to them.
22 
It shall be the duty of funeral parlors, burial facilities, crematoriums, and
23 
embalmers to report a death to the LCR pursuant to this Act and other relevant
24 
laws, rules, and regulations, upon knowledge that a death has not been
25 
registered.
26 
SEC. 42. Persons Responsible for Reporting A Death Under
27 
Special Circumstances. — The following persons shall be responsible for
28 
informing the LCR of the fact of death occurring under special circumstances:
29 
(a) The driver of a vehicle, captain of a vessel, or pilot of an airplane,
30 
as the case may be, or in default thereof, the owner of the moving
25


1 
conveyance, for a death that occurs aboard a vehicle, vessel, or
2 
airplane;
3 
(b) The imam, village chief, or tribal leader, as the case may be, for
4 
a death that occurs within the religious or indigenous cultural
5 
community;
6 
(c) The head of a detention facility for deaths that occur in state
7 
custody.
8 
SEC. 43. Duty to Report A Death. — It shall be duty of the informants
9 
under Sections 41 and 42 of this Act to inform the Local Health Officer of the
10 
city or municipality where the death occurred or where the body was found, of
11 
a death within forty-eight (48) hours from the time of death, or from knowledge
12 
of such death: Provided, That in case of medicolegal deaths, the medicolegal
13 
officer to whom the death was referred shall report such death to the Local
14 
Health Officer within ten (10) days from the date of death or receipt of the
15 
report of death.
16 
The Local Health Officer, or any other government physician authorized
17 
under this Act, shall, upon ensuring that the information provided is complete
18 
and accurate, and that the medical certification on cause of death is properly
19 
filled out, report the death to the LCR by forwarding the certificate of death
20 
and other relevant documents within thirty (30) days from the time of or
21 
discovery of death.
22 
SEC. 44. Medical Certification and Determination of Cause of
23 
Death. - The cause and manner of death of deceased persons shall be
24 
determined and medically certified, by the following persons, subject to
25 
guidelines to be issued by the DOH:
26 
(a) 
By the head of the health facility or the attending physician, in
27 
case of deaths occurring in a health facility and deaths
28 
pronounced in the health facility;
29 
(b) By the physician who last attended to the deceased during their
30 
last illness, in case of deaths occurring outside a health facility
31 
but with medical attendance;
26


1 
(c) 
By the Local Health Officer, or other physicians authorized by
2 
them, in case of deaths occurring outside a health facility and
3 
without medical attendance, upon viewing the body in-person 
or
4 
through video conferencing, and upon reviewing the deceased's
5 
medical records; or
6 
(d) 
By the medicolegal officer of the PNP or NBI, in cases of
7 
medicolegal deaths.
8 
The cause and manner of death shall be reported to the LCR in the same
9 
manner as the fact of death. The Local Health Officer may designate other
10 
physicians to determine the cause and manner of death for deaths without
11 
medical attendance: Provided, That such physician has undergone training on
12 
medical certification of cause of death, as prescribed by the DOH.
13 
SEC. 45. Verbal Autopsy. — In cases where a person died outside a
14 
health facility and without medical attendance, and no medical records are
15 
available to determine the cause and manner of death of the deceased, the
16 
Local Health Officer receiving the report of death or other physicians authorized
17 
by the Local Health Officer shall view the body in-person, through video
18 
conferencing, or such other means allowed under regulations, and conduct
19 
verbal autopsy to determine the most likely cause of death: Provided, That
20 
physicians designated by the Local Health Officer to conduct verbal autopsy
21 
have undergone training on the use of verbal autopsy. The fact that verbal
22 
autopsy was used to determine the most likely cause of death shall be specified
23 
in the certificate of death.
24 
The DOH shall issue guidelines on the conduct of verbal autopsies by
25 
Local Health Officers.
26 
SEC. 46. Medicolegal Deaths. - The following deaths shall be
27 
considered medicolegal deaths that must be reported to medicolegal officers of
28 
the PNP or NBI in cases within their jurisdiction, by any person who has
29 
knowledge of such death:
27


1 
(a) Deaths due to known or suspected unnatural or external causes,
2 
including violent deaths, whether due to homicide, suicide, or
3 
accident;
4 
(b) 
All potentially unlawful deaths;
5 
(c) 
Sudden, unexpected, or unexplained deaths not caused by a
6 
readily recognizable disease, including dead-on-arrival cases with
7 
improbable or inconsistent medical history or within confinement
8 
of less than twenty-four (24) hours;
9 
(d) 
Deaths in state custody; and
10 
(e) 
Other analogous causes.
11 
Upon receipt of the report, the medicolegal officer to whom the case is
12 
assigned shall conduct a post-mortem examination of the deceased and such
13 
other examinations needed to determine the cause and manner of death. The
14 
consent of the deceased's next-of-kin shall not be required for such
15 
examinations.
16 
The medicolegal officer shall certify and report the cause and manner of
17 
death, in the form and manner prescribed by the NSCRG, and according to
18 
guidelines to be issued by the NSCRG in coordination with the DILG, the DOJ,
19 
andtheDOH.
20 
In the absence of a medicolegal officer of the PNP and NBI in the city or
21 
municipality where the death occurred, the PNP may authorize a Local Health
22 
Officer or government physician to conduct the medicolegal death investigation
23 
(MLDI): Provided, That such Local Health Officer or government physician shali
24 
act under the supervision of the PNP.
25 
The cause and manner of death determined upon request for a second
26 
opinion made to another agency shall not be registered without court order:
27 
Provided, That in case jurisdiction is transferred to the NBI or PNP upon order
28 
of the Secretary of Justice or the Secretary of the Interior and Local
29 
Government, the agency designated to conduct the MLDI shall be responsible
30 
for reporting the cause and manner of death.
28


1 
SEC. 47. Duty to Keep Records of Death. - All health facilities shall
2 
submit to the LCR a record of all deaths occurring in such facilities on a quarterly
3 
basis. Such record shall contain information required for registration, including
4 
but not limited to the name of the deceased, the certifier of cause and manner
5 
of death, and the date of submission of registration documents to the LCR.
6 
All funeral parlors, embalmers, cemeteries, and crematoriums shall
7 
likewise submit to the LCR on a quarterly basis, a record of all deaths referred
8 
to their facility for embalming, burial, or cremation services. Such record shall
9 
contain relevant information, including but not limited to the name of the
10 
deceased, the date of issuance of the permit to dispose of the body, the name
11 
of the embalmer, and the date of registration of death.
12 
SEC. 48. Classification of Diseases. — The DOH and the PSA shall
13 
adopt a standard for the classification of diseases consistent with international
14 
standards.
15 
SEC. 49. Registration of Deaths of Unidentified Persons. - The
16 
NSCRG, in coordination with the PNP, NBI, DOJ, DILG, DOH, and other reievant
17 
organizations, shail issue guidelines for the registration of unidentified persons.
18 
These guidelines shail include mechanisms to amend the identity, cause and
19 
manner of death, and other relevant information on the deceased when they
20 
become known, in accordance with this Act.
21 
The DOH shall ensure that all funeral parlors, burial facilities, and
22 
crematoriums are trained on disposal of unidentified bodies and remains.
23 
SEC. 50. Monitoring and Review of Causes of Death. - The DOH,
24 
through its regional offices and provincial health officers, shall conduct regular
25 
and random audits of causes of death within their territorial jurisdiction and
26 
shall submit reports and recommendations to the Civil Registration Inter-
27 
Agency Cooperation Committee to improve the quality, accuracy, and
28 
timeliness of cause of death determination and certification.
29


1 
CHAPTER III
2 
Marriage License and Registration of Marriage
3 
SEC. 51. Registration of the Appiication for Marriage License. -
4 
An application for a marriage license shall be filed by the contracting parties
5 
before the LCR where either of the parties resides. The LCR shall enter all
6 
applications in the Register of Applications for Marriage License strictly in the
7 
order of receipt of applications. The LCR shall record in the said register the
8 
names of the applicants, the date of issuance of the marriage license, and such
9 
other information as may be prescribed by the NSCRG.
10 
No application shall be received by the LCR unless supporting documents
11 
are attached thereto and no application shall be posted unless it is received by
12 
the LCR. Registration of such application shall only take place after the
13 
completion of the posting period.
14 
All applications for marriage license shall be governed by the pertinent
15 
provisions of EO No. 209.
16 
SECTION 52. Registration of Marriage. - All marriages, including
17 
marriages among ICCs/IPs requiring a marriage license, shall be registered by
18 
the solemnizing officer within fifteen (15) days following the solemnization of
19 
the marriage at the LCRO of the place where the marriage was solemnized.
20 
Marriages exempted from the license requirement, as provided in Title I,
21 
Chapter 2 of EO No. 209, shall be registered in the same manner within thirty
22 
(30) days from the date of celebration of marriage.
23 
A marriage solemnized while in transit within Philippine territory is
24 
registrable at the place of destination or usual residence of either party.
25 
Marriage among Muslim Filipinos performed under their customs, rites,
26 
and practices shall be registered by the officiating person, or in their default,
27 
by the parties to the marriage, with the Circuit Registrar of the city or
28 
municipality where the Shari'a Circuit Court exists. Where there is no Shari'a
29 
Circuit Court, marriages among Muslim Filipinos shall be registered at the LCRO
30 
where the marriage was celebrated.
30


1 
SEC. 53. Marriages Exempt from the License Requirement. - In
2 
marriages exempt from the license requirement, the solemnizing officer, in
3 
accordance with Title I, Chapter 2 of EO No. 209, shall indicate in the space
4 
provided in the Certificate of Marriage the specific provision of EO No. 209
5 
under which the marriage was performed. The civil registrar shall enter the
6 
same in the remarks column of the marriage register, in accordance with
7 
relevant NSCRG guidelines.
8 
CHAPTER IV
9 
Delayed Registration
10 
SEC. 54. Delayed Registration. - Delayed registration refers to the
11 
registration of a vital event beyond the reglementary period under this Act and
12 
other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.
13 
The NSCRG shall prescribe guidelines on the delayed registration of vital
14 
events, in accordance with this Act and other relevant laws, rules, and
15 
regulations. Such guidelines shall include but not be limited to the requirements
16 
and procedures for the following:
17 
(a) 
Appearance of the document owner in relation to the processing
18 
of delayed registration, including instances where personal
19 
appearance may be dispensed with;
20 
(b) 
Exceptional circumstances, such as the occurrence of a state of
21 
calamity or pandemic, necessitating birth registration assistance
22 
programs to aid in the expedient registration of birth among the
23 
vulnerable sectors of society;
24 
(c) 
Imposition of standard fees for delayed registration and/or waiver
25 
of the delayed registration fee where the applicant is an indigent,
26 
has limited access to registration services, and such other similar
27 
circumstances; and
28 
(d) 
Other analogous cases as may be deemed necessary to realize
29 
the objectives of this Act.
31


1 
SEC. 55. Delayed Registration of Birth. - The primary documentary
2 
requirements for the application for delayed registrations of birth shall be:
3 
(a) Certificate of Live Birth duly accomplished and signed by the
4 
proper parties;
5 
(b) 
Accomplished Affidavit for Delayed Registration; and
6 
(c) 
National ID or ePhillD.
7 
SEC. 56. Waiving of Delayed Registration Fee. — The standard fee
8 
for delayed registration shall be waived upon presentation of any of the
9 
following:
10 
(a) 
Certificate of indigency issued by the DSWD or by the Local Social
11 
Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO); or
12 
(b) 
Certificate of 4Ps.
13 
Provided, That certificates of indigency issued by the LSWDO shall be
14 
subject to further verification by the PSA; Provided, further. That that persons
15 
requesting for waiver of the delayed registration fee should be in the DSWD's
16 
Listahanan or other equivalents lists or databases.
17 
CHAPTER V
18 
Multiple Registration
19 
SEC. 57. Multiple Registration. - In cases of multiple registrations
20 
of birth and death, the first registered certificate shall be presumed valid, unless
21 
otherwise canceled by the court. No copies of subsequently registered
22 
certificates registering the same birth or death shall be issued.
23 
For multiple marriages involving the same parties, the certificate of
24 
marriage pertaining to the first celebrated marriage shall be presumed valid,
25 
unless otherwise canceled by the court.
26 
The NSCRG shall promptly inform the concerned LCR, Shari’a Circuit
27 
Registrar, or Philippine Foreign Service Post of the multiple registration upon
28 
discovery.
32


1 
SEC. 58. Supplemental Report. — A supplemental report using the
2 
appropriate form (e.g., Certificate of Live Birth, Certificate of Death, Certificate
3 
of Fetal Death, or Certificate of Marriage) may be filed to supply information
4 
inadvertently omitted when the document was registered: Provided, That
5 
supplemental reports to the Certificate of Death and Certificate of Marriage
6 
shall only be allowed in cases where there is an official autopsy conducted by
7 
the NBI and the PNP, or as ordered by the court, in accordance with Article 412
8 
of the Civil Code and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations; Provided,
9 
further. That the filing of the supplemental report shall be accompanied by an
10 
affidavit executed by the registrant or person filing the supplemental report,
11 
indicating the information inadvertently omitted and the reasons for such
12 
inadvertence; Provided, finaiiy. That all documents related to the filing of the
13 
supplemental report shall be forwarded to the Office of the NSCRG.
14 
CHAPTER VI
15 
Registration of Soiemnizing Officers
16 
SEC. 59. Registration of Solemnizing Officers. - The following
17 
shall file their sworn application for registration of authority to solemnize
18 
marriage, in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the NSCRG:
19 
(a) 
Priest, rabbi, imam, or minister of any church or religious sect,
20 
acting within the limits duly authorized by their church or religious
21 
sect; and
22 
(b) 
Authorized chieftain or tribal leader of a duly confirmed ICC/IP
23 
group by the NCIP.
24 
The NSCRG shall review such applications and, after determination that
25 
the denomination, church, sect, or religion of the applicant operates in the
26 
Philippines and in good repute, shall issue the Certificate of Registration of
27 
Authority To Solemnize Marriage (CRASM), and record the name of such priest,
28 
minister, or rabbi in the register of solemnizing officers. A denomination,
29 
church, sect, or religion shall be deemed operating in the Philippines when such
30 
appears in the latest census records of the Philippines. In the absence of census
31 
records, the current Certificate of Registration or General Information Sheet
33


1 
issued by the SEC may be presented. In the absence of the foregoing, a
2 
certification from the mayor having jurisdiction over the place where its church,
3 
temple, chapel, mosque, synagogue, and other places of worship used actually
4 
and exclusively for holding religious gatherings, rites, and services is situated,
5 
affirming that the religion or religious sect is operating in its locality, may be
6 
submitted.
7 
SEC. 60. Grounds for Cancellation ofCRASM. - The NSCRG shall
8 
have the authority to cancel the CRASM, upon due notice and hearing, based
9 
on the following grounds:
10 
(a) When the bishop or head of religion or religious sect of which the
11 
soiemnizing officer is a member requests for its cancellation;
12 
(b) 
When the solemnizing officer voluntarily requests for cancellation;
13 
(c) 
When the solemnizing officer ceases to be a member of the
14 
religion or religious sect indicated in the certificate, or retires, or
15 
ceases to be a priest, minister, or religious minister;
16 
(d) When the solemnizing officer is convicted by final judgment of
17 
any crime involving moral turpitude;
18 
(e) When the solemnizing officer becomes permanently incapacitated
19 
to discharge the functions of their office;
20 
(f) When the solemnizing officer willfully violates laws or regulations
21 
on marriage, or willfully fails to fulfill their duties as solemnizing
22 
officer;
23 
(g) When the solemnizing officer commits other acts in contravention
24 
of law; and
25 
(h) Other analogous circumstances.
26 
CHAPTER VII
27 
Court Orders and Legal Instruments
28 
SEC. 61. Registration of Court Orders. - In case of a court
29 
decree/order concerning the status of a person, it shall be the duty of the Clerk
30 
of Court to advise the successful petitioner to have the decree/order registered
34


1 
in the LCRO where the court is functioning within thirty (30) days after the
2 
decree/order has become final.
3 
The successful petitioner or their authorized representative, in lieu of the
4 
Clerk of Court, may cause the registration of the court decree/order. The civil
5 
registrar, upon receipt of the application for registration, shall verify the
6 
authenticity of the court decree/order. It shall be the duty of the Clerk of Court
7 
who issued the decree/order to ascertain whether the same has been
8 
registered, and if not, to cause the registration of the same.
9 
Applications for registration of a court decree/order filed beyond the 30-
10 
day reglementary period shall be processed subject to the rules for delayed
11 
registration, in accordance with this Act and the guidelines issued by the
12 
NSCRG.
13 
The LCRO where the decree/order was registered shall forward a
14 
certified true copy of the same to the LCRO where the vital event affected was
15 
originally registered, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the NSCRG.
16 
SEC. 62. Registration of Divorce Among Musiim Fiiipinos. —
17 
Divorce in accordance with talaq or tafwid shall be registered at the Shari'a
18 
Circuit Court where the divorce occurred within thirty (30) days from the
19 
occurrence of the vital event. In the event that there is no Shari'a Circuit Court
20 
in the place where the divorce occurred, the same shall be registered in the
21 
Shari'a Circuit Court of the place of habitual residence of the requesting party,
22 
or at the nearest Shari'a Circuit Court where the divorce occurred.
23 
A Decree of Divorce issued by a Shari'a Circuit Court, once final and
24 
executory, shall be registered by the Shari'a Circuit Registrar of the place where
25 
the divorce occurred and entered in the Register of Muslim Divorces within
26 
thirty (30) days after the divorce has become final and executory. The Shari’a
27 
Circuit Registrar shall transmit registered copies of the Decree of Divorce and
28 
its Certificate of Finality to the appropriate office, in accordance with the
29 
guidelines issued by the NSCRG.
35


1 
SEC. 63. Registration of the Dissoiution of Marriages Among
2 
ICCs/IPs. - In accordance with existing laws, rules, and regulations, the
3 
Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage of ICCs/IPs shall be registered with the
4 
LCRO of the city or municipality where the dissolution of marriage occurred
5 
within thirty (30) days from the confirmation of the occurrence of the
6 
dissolution of marriage: Provided, That facts and information contained in such
7 
Certificate shall be confirmed in writing by a tribal leader, chieftain, or
8 
community elder of the ICC to which any of the parties belongs.
9 
SEC. 64. Recognition of Foreign Decree or Judgment. - The
10 
foreign decree or judgment must be judicially recognized by filing a proper civil
11 
action with the Regional Trial Court (RTC). The court decision recognizing such
12 
foreign judgment shall be registered at the LCRO where the concerned RTC
13 
functions within thirty (30) calendar days from the finality of judgment. The
14 
court decree/order, together with the Certificate of Finality, shall be submitted
15 
to the LCRO where the marriage is registered for annotation.
16 
SEC. 65. Registration of Judiciai Deciaration of Presumptive
17 
Death. - The Clerk of Court that issues the order or the successful petitioner
18 
of the case declaring the presumptive death of a person shall submit a copy of
19 
the court decree/order, together with the Certificate of Finality, to the LCRO in
20 
the city or municipality where the court decree/order was issued, within thirty
21 
(30) calendar days from the time of issuance of the court decree/order, in
22 
accordance with the provisions of this Act and EO No. 209.
23 
SEC. 66. Adoption. - All adoptions processed and recognized under
24 
Philippine law shall be duly registered in accordance with this Act.
25 
The registration of Administrative Orders of Adoption shall be governed
26 
by the relevant provisions of RA No. 11642 or the Domestic Administrative
27 
Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act, its IRR, and other relevant laws, rules,
28 
and regulations.
36


1 
SEC. 67. Rectification of Simuiated Birth Records. - The
2 
registration of rectification of simulated birth records shall be governed by the
3 
relevant provisions of RA No. 11222, as amended by RA No. 11642, its IRR,
4 
and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.
SEC.
be recorded
7
(a)
8
(b)
9
(c)
10
(d)
11
12
13
(e)
14
15
16
(f)
17
(g)
18
(h)
19
(i)
20
(j)
21
(k)
22
23
(1)
24
(m)
25
26
(n)
27
(0)
28
(P)
29
30
(q)
68. Registration of Legai Instruments. - The following shall 
in the Register of Legal Instruments:
Affidavit of reappearance;
Affidavit of acknowledgment under the Civil Code;
Acquisition of citizenship;
Acquisition of traditional title upon completion of Hajj or Ada, in 
accordance with Section 17 of RA 9997 or the National 
Commission on Muslim Filipinos Act of 2009;
Administrative reacquisition and retention of citizenship under RA 
No. 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 
2003;
Renunciation of Philippine citizenship;
Authorization and ratification of artificial insemination;
Certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage;
Legitimation;
Option to elect Philippine citizenship;
Marriage settlements and any modification thereof before the 
celebration of marriage;
Repatriation document with oath of allegiance;
Dissolution of marriage among ICCs/IPs, in accordance with their 
customs and traditions;
Affidavit to use the surname of the father;
Affidavit of admission of paternity;
Partition and distribution of properties of spouses and delivery of 
the children's presumptive legitime;
Waiver of rights/interests in absolute community of property; and
37


1 
(r) 
Such other registrable legal instruments as may be determined
2 
by the NSCRG.
3 
SEC. 69. Place of Registration. - As a general rule, all legal
4 
instruments shall be registered in the LCRO of the place where they were
5 
executed except for the following:
6 
(a) 
Affidavit of reappearance;
7 
(b) 
Marriage settlement;
8 
(c) 
Admission of paternity or equivalent document;
9 
(d) 
Acknowledgement, legitimation, or voluntary emancipation of a
10 
minor;
11 
(e) 
Authorization and ratification of artificial insemination; and
12 
(f) 
Affidavit to use the surname of the father.
13 
SEC. 70. Registration of Affidavit of Reappearance. - A sworn
14 
statement of the facts and circumstances of reappearance of a spouse declared
15 
to be absent or presumptively dead shall be recorded with the LCRO where the
16 
judicial declaration of presumptive death was recorded, and in the LCRO where
17 
a subsequent marriage was recorded, if applicable. The affidavit of
18 
reappearance shall be annotated both in the first and subsequent certificates
19 
of marriage of the spouses, if applicable.
20 
SEC. 71. Registration of Marriage Settiement. - The marriage
21 
settlement signed by the parties prior to their celebration of marriage, in
22 
accordance with EO No. 209, shall be registered in the LCRO where the
23 
marriage was registered.
24 
SEC. 72. Registration of Admission of Paternity or Equivaient
25 
Document, Acknowiedgment, and Affidavit to Use the Surname of the
26 
Father. - The sworn statement recognizing paternity of a child shall be
27 
registered in accordance with RA No. 9255 and other relevant laws, rules, and
28 
regulations.
38


1 
SEC. 73. Registration of Affidavit of Legitimation. - The Affidavit
2 
of Legitimation shall be registered in the LCRO where the birth was registered,
3 
subject to RA No. 9858 and its IRR.
4 
SEC. 74. Registration of Affidavit of Ratification of Artificiai
5 
Insemination. - Children conceived as a result of artificial insemination of the
6 
wife with the sperm of the husband, or that of a donor, or both, are likewise
7 
legitimate children of the husband and his wife: Provided, That both of them
8 
authorized or ratified such insemination in a written instrument executed and
9 
signed by them before the birth of the child. The instrument shall be recorded
10 
in the civil register together with the birth certificate of the child.
11 
SEC. 75. Registration of Reacquisition ofPhiiippine Citizenship
12 
under RA No. 9225. - The Oath of Allegiance, together with the Order of
13 
Approval, shall be registered at the LCRO or Philippine Foreign Service Post
14 
where the Oath of Allegiance was executed within thirty (30) days from its
15 
execution, in accordance with existing laws, rules, and regulations.
16 
CHAPTER VIII
17 
Civil Registry Database
18 
SEC. 76. Prime Facie Evidence of VitaiEvents. - The registry books
19 
making up the civil register, both physical and digital, as well as corresponding
20 
certified copies shall be prime facie evidence of the truth of the facts contained
21 
therein.
22 
The civil registrar shall not, under any circumstance, permit any
23 
document entrusted to their care to be removed from their office, except upon
24 
lawful order of the court, in which case the proper receipt shall be secured.
25 
SEC. 77. Data Privacy and Confidentiality of Civii Registration
26 
Records. — All processes, databases, and information gathered through and
27 
stored in the CRVS System shall be processed in accordance with RA No. 10173.
28 
The PSA shall adopt such controls and safeguards as are appropriate
29 
and necessary to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to its data
39


1 
and records, and that the confidentiality of the information handled and
2 
processed by the CRVS system is protected at all times, in accordance with
3 
relevant provisions of PD No. 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code, as
4 
amended, and RA No. 10173.
5 
The NSCRG shall issue policies and guidelines on the copy issuance of
6 
civil registry documents.
7 
SEC. 78. Generation and Sharing of CRVS Information. - Civil
8 
registration information shall be the primary source of vital statistics. The PSA
9 
shall regularly publish vital statistics and reports thereon, in accordance with
10 
RA No. 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013.
11 
The PSA shall likewise share information to other government agencies,
12 
including LGUs, as may be necessary to the purposes of such requests and in
13 
accordance with relevant provisions of PD No. 603, RA No. 10173, and other
14 
relevant laws, rules, and regulations.
15 
CHAPTER IX
16 
Digitalization
17 
SEC. 79. Digitaiization of CRVS System. - The NSCRG, in
18 
coordination with the Department of Information and Communications
19 
Technology (DICT), shall develop and adopt appropriate technology to facilitate
20 
and improve the CRVS system. The NSCRG may, for this purpose, issue
21 
guidelines on:
22 
(a) 
The digitalization of civil registration processes and the
23 
digitization of the national register, local registers, and other civil
24 
registration records;
25 
(b) The requirements for the adoption of the CRVS system, including
26 
its interoperability or integration with existing IT systems, by
27 
LCRs, Shari'a District/Circuit Registrars, Philippine Foreign Service
28 
Posts, health facilities, BCRS, other government stakeholders;
40


1 
(c) The use of electronic or digital signatures for registration of vital
2 
events, in accordance with RA No. 8792 or the Electronic
3 
Commerce Act of 2000.
4 
All national and local registers, and all civil registration records forming
5 
part of said registers, shall conform to the guidelines set by the NSCRG, in
6 
coordination with the DICT, taking into consideration new technologies
7 
available.
8 
The NSCRG may prescribe the form of civil registry documents and
9 
reports, including physical and electronic/digital copies, to be used by civil
10 
registrars.
11 
SEC. 80. Interoperability of CRVS System with PhiiSys
12 
Database. - The CRVS System shall be interoperable with the Philippine
13 
Identification System (PhilSys), in accordance with relevant provisions of RA
14 
No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act. The NSCRG shall issue
15 
guidelines to ensure the secure sharing and interoperability of the CRVS system
16 
with the PhilSys.
17 
SEC. 81. E-Fiiing. - The Civil Registration Office shall establish an
18 
electronic filing system for the following:
19 
(a) Petitions under RA No. 9048, as amended by RA No. 10172;
20 
(b) 
Submission or Application for Annotation under RA 9858;
21 
(c) 
Application for Registration of CRASM;
22 
(d) 
Petition for cancellation of CRASM; and
23 
(e) 
Appeals and other processes related to civil registration, as may
24 
be deemed necessary.
25 
SEC. 82. Posting and Publication Requirements. - The posting
26 
and publication relative to the registration of vital events shall be made in
27 
accordance with this Act and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations. This
28 
notwithstanding, posting through the official PSA central and field office
29 
websites or other official government website shall constitute compliance with
30 
the posting and publication requirements under civil registration laws.
41


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
CHAPTER X 
Penal Provisions
SEC. 83. Immunity from Suit of Civil Registration Officers. - The
NSCRG, LCRs, Shari'a District/Circuit Registrars, Consul Generals/Consuls/Vice 
Consuls, and other officers performing civil registration functions shall not be 
subject to any action, claim, or demand in connection with any act done or 
omitted by them in the performance of their duties and exercise of their powers 
to implement the provisions of this Act, except for acts and omissions done in 
evident bad faith or gross neglect of duty.
Unless the actions of the above-mentioned officers are found to be in 
willful violation of this Act or performed with evident bad faith or gross 
negligence, the abovementioned officers are held free and harmless from any 
liability, to the full extent permissible by law, and they shall be indemnified for 
any and all costs, and expenses of whatever kind and nature that may arise in 
connection with the lawful exercise of their powers and performance of their 
duties and functions.
SEC. 84. Offenses and Penalties. - (A) It shall be prohibited for any 
natural or juridical person to commit or facilitate the commission of any of the 
following acts:
(1) Forging civil registration documents, certificates, and registers; 
Willfully falsifying, altering, or tampering civil registration 
documents, certificates, and registers;
Submitting false information in registering vital events;
Using, abetting to use, or possessing falsified or illegally obtained 
certificates and security papers; and
Profiteering and unauthorized facilitation of registration and copy 
issuance of civil registration documents.
Any person who commits the foregoing violations shall, upon conviction, 
be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than 
twelve (12) years, or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php
42
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)


1 
100,000.00) but not more than One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00), or both,
2 
at the discretion of the court.
3 
(B) It is prohibited for any government employee or official, solemnizing
4 
officer, or medical practitioner, attendant, or health facility officer, authorized
5 
to prepare civil registry documents to:
6 
(1) 
Intentionally prepare, or aid or abet in the preparation of, a
7 
certificate or civil registration document containing false or
8 
fraudulent information;
9 
(2) 
Intentionally and knowingly issue certificates or civil registration
10 
documents containing false information;
11 
(3) 
Make any unauthorized alteration in civil registration documents,
12 
certificates, and registers; and
13 
(4) 
Intentionally withhold information from, or refuse to inform, the
14 
LCR of a vital event.
15 
Any government employee or official, solemnizing officer, or medical
16 
practitioner, attendant, or health facility officer, who commits the foregoing
17 
violations shall, upon conviction, be punished with imprisonment of not less
18 
than six (6) years but not more than twelve (12) years, or a fine of not less
19 
than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) but not more than One
20 
Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.
21 
In all instances, if the violation was committed by a government official
22 
or employee, the penalty shall include perpetual absolute disqualification from
23 
holding any public office or employment in the government, including
24 
government-owned and -controlled corporations, and their subsidiaries.
25 
This provision shall be without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate
26 
criminal cases, in accordance with the Revised Penal Code and other special
27 
penal laws.
28 
(C) It shall be unlawful for health facilities and their responsible
29 
personnel, and medical practitioners, to refuse to report or cause the
30 
registration of a vital event due to non-payment of hospital fees.
31 
Any government employee or official, medical practitioner, or health
32 
facility officer who commits the foregoing violation shall, upon conviction, be
43


1 
punished with imprisonment of not iess than six (6) years but not more than
2 
twelve (12) years, or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php
3 
100,000.00) but not more than One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00), or both,
4 
at the discretion of the court. This provision shall be without prejudice to other
5 
penalties and fines that may be imposed on government employees and
6 
officials for misfeasance, malfeasance, and other acts and omissions prohibited
7 
by law.
8 
In case of acts committed by private individuals, the penalties imposed
9 
in this section shaii be without prejudice to the fiiing of the appropriate criminal
10 
cases, in accordance with the Revised Penal Code and other special penal laws.
11 
In case of acts committed by juridicai persons, the penalties mentioned
12 
herein shall be imposed on its president, manager, or most senior officer.
13 
CHAPTER XI
14 
Cancellation of Civil Registry Documents
15 
SEC. 85. Power to Block Copy Issuance of Civil Registry
16 
Documents. - The PSA may, motu proprio, block the copy issuance of any
17 
civil registry document in the civil registry database upon initiai findings of
18 
fraud, subject to guidelines issued by the NSCRG.
19 
SEC. 86. Special Committee on Cancellation of Civil Registry
20 
Documents. — There shall be a special committee on the cancellation of civil
21 
registry documents, which shall be composed of a Chairman and two (2)
22 
Members appointed by the NSCRG. The Special Committee shaii convene and
23 
act as a collegial body in rendering a decision. The presence of the Chairman
24 
and one (1) Member shall constitute a quorum.
25 
SEC. 87. Cancellation of Civil Registry Documents. - The Special
26 
Committee shall, upon due notice and hearing, cause the canceiiation of civil
27 
registry documents based on the following grounds:
28 
(a) 
Fraud in the registration of vital event; and
29 
(b) 
Violation of dvii registration laws, including those involving
30 
national interest.
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1 
The NSCRG shall have the power to enlist the assistance of law
2 
enforcement and investigative bodies to determine the existence of the above
3 
grounds to cancel civil registry documents. Investigations to determine the
4 
existence of the above-cited grounds shaii be completed within a period not
5 
exceeding fifteen (15) days.
6 
The Special Committee shall render its decision not later than thirty (30)
7 
days from the completion of the investigation or lapse of the 15-day
8 
investigation period, whichever comes first: Provided, That the NSCRG may
9 
grant the Special Committee extension of time to render its Decision in view of
10 
the nature of the case. Such decision shall become final and executory fifteen
11 
(15) days after the receipt thereof by the parties to the proceedings, subject to
12 
appeal under Section 89 of this Act.
13 
SEC. 88. Canceled Civil Registration Documents. - Upon finaiity
14 
of the decision rendered by the Special Committee under Section 87, the Speciai
15 
Committee shall notify the concerned civil registrar of the finality of the
16 
decision, who shall then cancel the affected civil registry document. Copies of
17 
civil registration documents canceled in accordance with this provision shall
18 
only be issued upon issuance of a court order.
19 
SEC. 89. Appeals. — Any person whose interest is affected by a
20 
decision or inaction by a civil registrar or any officer performing civil registration
21 
functions under this Act, inciuding the Speciai Committee under Section 87,
22 
may appeal the decision or inaction to the NSCRG, in accordance with
23 
guidelines promuigated by the PSA.
24 
SEC. 90. Use of Income. - Ten percent (10%) of the income
25 
generated from the civil registration services shall be retained for the upgrading
26 
of equipment, system, database, physical facilities, and operations of the Civil
27 
Registration Office.
28 
SEC. 91. Transitory Provisions. - For the first two (2) years from the
29 
effectivity of this Act, the existing rules, guidelines, standard operating
30 
procedures, and forms for the registration of vital events shall continue to be
45


1 
in effect to ensure continuity of civil registration services. The NSCRG shall issue
2 
guidelines, as necessary, to clarify which procedures shall remain in effect
3 
notwithstanding the effectivity of this Act.
4 
SEC. 92. Appropriations. - There shall be an initial appropriation of
5 
One Hundred Fifty Million Pesos (Php 150,000,000.00) in the General
6 
Appropriations Act, which shall be included in the PSA's budget, for the
7 
digitalization of civil registration processes and the digitization of the national
8 
register, local registers, and other civil registration records;
9 
SEC. 93. Mandatory Review. - This Act shall undergo mandatory
10 
review at least every five (5) years to integrate global best practices, and
11 
accommodate necessary modifications and developments to the CRVS system.
12 
SEC. 94. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - The PSA, in
13 
coordination with the Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee
14 
and other relevant stakeholders, including national professional organizations
15 
of LCRs, shall adopt such rules and regulations for the proper and effective
16 
implementation of this Act within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.
17 
SEC. 95. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any part or provision of this Act
18 
shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, other parts or provisions of this Act not
19 
otherwise affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
20 
SEC. 96. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, rules, regulations, and
21 
issuances inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
22 
modified accordingly.
23 
SEC. 97. Retroactivity. - This Act shall have retroactive effect insofar
24 
as it does not prejudice or impair vested or acquired rights.
25 
SEC. 98. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
26 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
27
Approved,
46