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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Hl 
AUG -:3 1\10 :21 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Executive Order No. 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines, Article 18, provides: 
ARTICLE 18. In case of any impediment known to the local civil 
registrar or brought to his attention, he shall note down the particulars 
thereof and his findings thereon in the application for marriage license, but 
shall nonetheless issue said license after the completion of the period of 
publication, unless ordered otherwise by a competent court at his own 
instance or that of any interested party. No filing fee shall be charged for 
the petition nor a corresponding bond required for the issuance of the 
order. 
The provision mandates the local civil registrar to note down his findings that an 
impediment to the marriage exists in the application for the marriage license. However, the law 
does not provide for the attachment of the application when the license is issued. As a result, 
marriages to which there is an impediment may be solemnized. 
This bill seeks to prevent a situation wherein the solemnizing officer celebrates the 
marriage even with the existence of an impediment that renders the marriage void.' 
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, This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HI 
AUG -3 Al0:21 
~F.Cffl\l€O"'" d6-"-', . 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO AMEND EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 209, ALSO KNOWN AS 
THE FAMILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, ARTICLE 18 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Article 18 of the Family Code of the Philippines is hereby amended to read 
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as follows: 
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"ARTICLE 18. In case of any impediment known to the local civil 
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registrar or brought to his attention, he shall note down the particulars thereof and 
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his findings thereon in the appliCation for marriage license, but shall nonetheless 
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issue said license WITH THE CORRESPONDING APPLICATION FOR SUCH 
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after the completion of the period of publication, unless ordered otherwise by a 
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competent court at his own instance or that of any interested party. No filing fee 
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shall be charged for the petition nor a corresponding bond required for the 
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issuance ofthe order." 
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SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and SUbsisting. 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clausf'. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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