EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S.B. NO. CG8
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•19 
JUL17 P2--49
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
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AN ACT
STRENGTHENING GENDER EQUALITY BY AMENDING ARTICLE 14 OF 
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 209, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FAMILY 
CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines, 
which came into effect on August 3, 1988, introduced reforms in Philippine law 
on family relations that, among others, advocated the inequality between men 
and women. Under the Family Code, women were not subservient to men, and 
became an equal partner in various family matters concerning, among others, 
the community property and parental authority. 
However, there remain 
provisions in the Family Code which unduly prejudices women.
One such provision is Article 14 of the Family Code. Article 14 provides that 
marital consent of the father to the marriage of a child between the age of 
eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) is preferred over the consent of the mother, 
and states:
"Art. 14. In case either or both of the contracting parties, not having been 
emancipated by a previous marriage, are between the ages of eighteen 
and twenty-one, they shall, in addition to the requirements of the 
preceding articles, exhibit to the local civil registrar, the consent to their 
marriage of their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons


having legal charge of them, in order mentioned. Such consent shall be 
manifested in writing by the interested party, who personally appears 
before the proper local civil registrar, or in the form of an affidavit made 
in the presence of two witnesses and attested before any official 
authorized by law to administer oaths. The personal manifestation shall be 
recorded in both applications for marriage license, and the affidavit, if one 
is executed instead, shall be attached to said applications."
There is no rational explanation for the preference for paternal marital consent. 
The Family Code itself recognizes that, save for certain instances, men and 
women, as regards their children, are partners of equal status and thus exercise 
joint parental authority.
This bill proposes to eliminate vestige of gender insensitive provisions of the 
Family Code, and strengthen the equality of men and women, particularly in their 
family relations.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.
,
L
tAWi
MARIA LOURDES I ^ C Y  S. BINAY 
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SEN W  
S.B. NO.
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v>5* 
' i? ■ -»c rj-
'19 JUL 17 P2 50
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING GENDER EQUALITY BY AMENDING ARTICLE 14 OF 
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 209, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FAMILY 
CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Article 14 of Executive Order No. 209, as amended, otherwise
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known as the Family Code, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
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"Art. 14. In case either or both of the contracting parties, not having
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been emancipated by a previous marriage, are between the ages of
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eighteen and twenty-one, they shall, in addition to the requirements of
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the preceding articles, exhibit to the local civil registrar, the consent to
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their marriage of [their father,- mother— surviving parent] EITHER
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PARENT, {of} THE guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in
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the order mentioned. Such consent shall be manifested in writing by the
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interested party, who personally appears before the proper local civil
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registrar, or in the form of an affidavit made in the presence of two
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witnesses and attested before any official authorized by law to
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administer oaths. The personal manifestation shall be recorded in both
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applications for marriage license, and the affidavit, if one is executed
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instead, shall be attached to said applications."
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Sec. 2. 
Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 3. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,