RECEIVED
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_) Date:_01 AUG 216
First Regular Session ) me LY

REGISTRATION UNIT
BALLS ANU INDEX SERVICE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
2170

H. No.

Introduced by Representative VILMA SANTOS-RECTO
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
PROHIBITING NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FROM REQUIRING THE
SUBMISSION OF A PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY CERTIFIED BIRTH
CERTIFICATE ISSUED WITHIN THE PAST SIX (6) MONTHS

Explanatory Note

The birth certificate is one of the most highly requested civil registry documents. This is
because the birth certificate is one of the documentary requirementsfor employment, educational
financial assistance, social security benefits, and forsecuring a number of vital government-
issued documents and identification such as a passport or driver’s license.

Birth certificates certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) are printed in
security paper (SECPA). Each copy costs P140 while the cost including delivery of the birth
certificate printed on SECPA is P315 per copy.' The SECPA over the years have changed in
appearance in order to keep the proliferation of fraudulent birth certificates and identities at bay.
According to the PSA however, changes in the color of the SECPA does not remove the validity
of the birth certificate. In spite of this, some government agencies require that applicants submit
a birth certificate printed in the most recent version of SECPA issued within the past six months,
thereby causing additional expenses every time an individual has to provide a birth certificate.

This bill seeks to eliminate the unnecessary expense and inconvenience on people in
requesting for a birth certificate whenever they will have to apply from government for servic
and documentsthat require proof of their birth date. This bill mandates that government agencies
requiring birth certificates for services be prohibited from compelling applicants to provide a
birth certificate that has been requested from the PSA within the past six months.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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In light of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

VILMA SANTOS-RECTO

*Philippine Statistics Authority


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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
H.No, LU

Introduced by Representative VILMA SANTOS-RECTO
6th District of Batangas

PROHIBITING NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FROM REQUIRING THE
SUBMISSION OF A PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY CERTIFIED BIRTH
CERTIFICATE ISSUED WITHIN THE PAST SIX (6) MONTHS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Lifetime Validity of Birth
Certificate Act of 2016”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State toestablish
an effective system that will improve the efficiency of delivery of government frontline services,
particularly civil registry documents. As such, the State shallenforce alifetime validity on birth
records certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

SEC. 3. Scope and Coverage. ~ This Act shall apply to all national government agencies

that require the submission of a birth record certified by the PSA for the delivery of government
services and issuance of documents.

SEC. 4. Prohibition on the Requirement of Submitting a Birth Certificate Certified by the
PSA within the Past Six (6) Months. ~ Government agencies are prohibited from requiring
applicants to government services to submit birth recordsprinted on the most recent version of
the security paper used by the PSA, or certified within the past six months.The birth certificate
certified and issued by the PSA shall not expire and shall be considered valid: Provided, Thatthe
birth records do not require administrative corrections as provided under Republic Act Nos. 9048
and 10172.

SEC. 5.Jmplementing Rules and Regulations-Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity
of thisAct, the PSA shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary to ensure
the efficient and effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or portions
thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7.Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,