Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4480

HOUSE BILL No.
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Civil registration is defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) as the
continuous, permanent, and compulsory recording of vital events occurring in the life
of an individual such as birth, marriage, and death, as well as all court decrees, and
legal instruments ffecting an individual's civil status. One of the functions of civil
essary data that g! s it in
making and implementation. As an example, according to the World Health
Organization, it is essential that countries know how many people are born and die
each year, as well as the cause of their deaths, in order to have a well-functioning
health system.’ In short, obtaining essential data through civil registration helps the
government deliver necessary services to Filipinos.

However, there is difficulty in accessing civil registration services, especially for
members of our society due to geographical issues.” Due to this, there is a risk that
essential services offered by the government cannot reach them. It is thus important
that measures be implemented in order to reach sectors of Philippine society facing
this inconvenience. Utilizing and involving the barangays and integrating them into the
civil registration system will hopefully bridge this gap. Considering that they are the
most accessible government units, their help in ensuring the accurate and proper
recording of vital events is vital.

Thus, to address this this bili endeavors to impiemei
comprehensive accessible, and adaptive civil registration system.

nt

o

ERNESTO “ERI M. DIONISIO, JR.
Assistant Majority Floor Leader
Congressman
First Congressional District of Manila

2 hetps://www.who..int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/civil-registration-why-counting-births-and-deaths-is-
important
? https://getinthepicture.org/sites/default/files/resources/phl_crvs_case_study_2014,pdf


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4480

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

AN ACT

IVE AND RESPO!

SYSTEM

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Civil Registration
Act of 2022.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall promote and maintain a
more comprehensive and responsive civil registration. Towards this end,
standardization and modernization of registration procedures are necessary to
establish the identity of the individual for administrative and legal purposes. Moreover,
efficient and simplified procedures in recording vital events must be applied in civil
registration for the benefit of the general public.

SECTION 3. Coverage. — The jaw shail include aii acts affecting the civil status
of persons in the Philippines including Indigenous Peoples and all Filipinos abroad.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — (a) “Civil Registration” refers to the
continuous, permanent documentation of occurrent and characteristics of vital events,
including any modifications thereof during the lifetime of a person, namely births,
deaths, marriages, judicial, and administrative orders and legal instruments.

(b) “Civil Register” refers to the various civil registry books where events and
judicial decrees concerning the civil status of persons are recorded, and to
3 ceitificates and documents kept in the archives of the Lé
Registry Office, Philippine Consulates, Philippine Statistics Authority, and
Shari'a District or Circuit Courts.

Registry Documents” refers to all certificates and documents relating
: ¢ recorded and kept in the archives of the
Local Civil Registry Office, Philippine Consulates, Philippine Statistics Authority
and Shari'a District or Circuit Courts.



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

(d) “National Statistician” refers to the head of the Philippine Statistics Authority.
(e} "Civil Registrar” refers to the head of the Local Civil Registrar Office (LCRO)
or the City or Municipal Civil Registrar (C/MCR), the Consul General, Consul or
Vice Consul and the Clerk of Shari'a District or Circuit Courts.

(f) “District or Circuit Registrar’ refers to the Clerk of Shari'a District or Circuit
Court performing civil registration functions with regard to Musli ge!
divorces, revocation of divorce and conversions under Title VI, Book Two of
Presidential Decree No. 1083, otherwise known as the Code of Muslim
Personal Laws.

(g) “Barangay Civil Registration System” refers to a strategy to facilitate civil
registration at the barangay level where all the barangay officials shall assist
the C/MCR in civil registration work, as provided for under Section 394 (d)(5),
Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of the
Philippines.

(h) “Legal instrument” refers to the affidavits/affirmation pertaining to civit
registration.

(i) “Out-of-town Reporting” refers to instances when the certificate of live birth
death, or marriage is presented to the civil registrar of a city or municipality
which is not the piace of birth, death, or marriage, not for registration but to be
forwarded to the civil registrar of the city or municipality where the birth, death,
or marriage occurred and where it should be registered.

SECTION 5. Duties and Functions of the National Statistician. - The

ve the following duties and

(a) Enforce and administer the civil registration in accordance with the
provisions of this Act;

(b) Prepare and issue rules and regulations pertaining to civil registration;

(c) Exercise technical direction and supervision over the C/MCRs and other
local civil registry officers;

(d) Give orders and instruction to the C/MCRs on civil registration;

(e) Endorse for investigation any complaint for violation of this Act and all
irregularities to the local chief executive and other duly authorized agencies;



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

HOUSE BILL No.

(f) Reproduce and issue documents under its custody and prepare and order
the printing of the necessary forms; and

(g) Determine and prescribe standard fees for civil registry documenis.

SECTION 6. Duties of the City/Municipal Civil Registrar (C/MCR). - In
accordance with Article IX Section 478 of Republic Act 7610, otherwise known as the
Local Government Code, the appointment of the C/MCRs shall be mandatory for the
city and municipal governments. The C/MCR shall be responsible for the civil
registration programs in the local government unit (LGU) pursuant to this Act and other
pertinent laws, and implementing rules and regulations. The C/MCR shall develop
plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor as the case
may be, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with civil registry
programs and projects which the local chief executive is empowered to implement and

empowered t

The C/MCR shall:

(a) Register all registrable events occurring within the jurisdiction of the local
government unit;

(b) File registrable certificates and documents presented to them or entry;

(c) Compile the registrabie certificates and documents monthly and prepare
and send any information required of them by the National Statistician;

(d) Issue certified transcripts or copies of any certificate or documents
registered during the year;

(e) Order the biding, properly classified or digitized, of all certificates or
doo egistered during the y

docu

(f) Send to the National Statistician within the first ten (10) days of each month,
a copy of entries made during the preceding month;

(g) Index all entries to facilitate search and identification in case any information
is required:

(h) Ad

(i) Accept all regi
civil status of persons;

() File, keep, and preserve in a secure place the books required by law;

(k) Transcribe and enter immediately upon receipt all registrable documents
and judicial decrees affecting the civil status of persons in the appropriate
civil registry books;

documents and judicial decrees/orders affecting the


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

(I) Receive applications for the insurance of marriage license, and after
determining that the requirements, supporting certificates, and publication
thereof for the prescribed period have been complied with, issue the license
upon payment of the authorized fee to the treasurer;

(m)Coordinate with the Office of the National Statistician in conducting
education campaigns for civil registration and assist in the preparation of
demographic and other statistics for the LGU concerned;

{n) Recommend to the National Statis
the formulation of policies, rules and regulations on civil registration;

(©) Submit status reports on the condition of civil registry documents filed in the
civil registry office whenever there are changes in the previous status of
files;

(p) Observe faithful compliance to rules and regulations pertaining to civil
registration;

(q) Reconstruct destroyed or lost civil registry records upon compliance with the
requirements and procedures established by the National Statistician; and

(r) Make available at all times the civil registry forms in the C/MCR office.

relative to

SECTION 7. Civil Registry Book. - The C/MCR shall keep and preserve in
their offices the following books in which they shall accordingly enter the proper record
concerning the civil status of persons:

(a) Register of Births;

(b) Register of Foundlings;

(c) Register of Death;

(d) Register of Marriages;

(e) Register of Solemnizing Officers;

(f) Register of Court Decrees or Orders;

(g) Register of Legal Instruments;
ter of Application for Mairiage License;

(i) Register of Conversions to Islam;

(ij) Register of Muslim Divorces;

(k) Register of Revocation of Muslim Divorces;

(I) Register of Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous Peoples
(iCCs/IPs) Marriage Disso!

(m)Register of Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous Peoples
(ICCs/IPs) Revocation of Marriage Dissolutions; and

(n) Register of Administrative Orders.



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

HOUSE BILL No.

SECTION 8. Registration and Certification of Birth. - The declaration of the
physician, midwife, attendant at birth, or in the absence thereof, the deciaration of
either or both parents or any person who has knowledge of the facts of birth of the
newborn child shall be sufficient for the registration of birth in the civil register. The
duly accomplished Certificate of Live Birth (COLB) containing the above declaration
shall be submitted for registration to the C/MCR of the place where the birth occurred
within thirty (30) days from the date of birth by the person g the d The
COLB shall declare the following:

(a) Name of the child;

(b) Sex;

(c) Date of birth;

(a) Place of birth;

(e) Name of mother;

(f) Name of father;

(g) Citizenship of the mother;

(h) Citizenship of the father:

(i) Date of marriage of parents;

(j) Place of marriage of parents; and

(k) Such other data as required in the regulation to be issued.

Abandoned children or foundlings whose parents, guardians, or relatives are
unknown, or children committed to an orphanage or a charitable institution with
unknown facts of birth and parentage, shall be registered by the finder or charitabie
institution concerned within thirty (30) days from the date of finding or commitment of
the child with the C/MCR of the place where such person was born subject to the
provision of Section 28 of this Act.

A deceased person's birth may aiso be registered on a delayed registration
basis by his/her nearest kin. However, the informant and affiant must show authentic
proof of the identity of the person registered, the facts of his/her birth and parentage
and other relevant data.

Outof-town registration of birth may alse be allowed.


Republic of the Philippines:
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

The record of a person's birth shall be kept strictly confidential and no
information relating thereto shall be issued except upon request by any of the
following:

(a) The concemed person or any person authorized by him/her;

(b) The person's spouse, parent/s, or direct descendants, or guardian or

institution legally-in-charge of him/her, if such person is a minor;
(€) The court or proper public officials, when deemed absolutely necessary in
1, or othe: | proceedings to determine the identity

ofthe person's parents or other circumstances surrounding his/her birth; or
(d) The nearest kin, in the case of deceased persons.

SECTION 9. Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS). — There shall be
established a Barangay Civil Registration System where elected and appointive
barangay officials shall have the mandate of assisting in the facilitation of civil
registration within their area of jurisdiction subject to the provisions of this Act.

The Office of the National Statistician shall, within ninety (90) days, form the
effectivity of this Act, issue guidelines in the implementation of the System which shall
include a regular program for training a capacity-building for elected and appointed
barangay officials in the performance of their civil registration functions.

The penalties provided for in Section 32 of this Act shall apply to elected and
appointed barangay officials who shall violate the provisions of this Act, its
impiementing ruies and regulations or the guidelines in the impiementation of the
Barangay Civil Registration System.

SECTION 10. Free Delayed Registration and Certification of Birth. - Local
Government units are mandated to implement a free delated registration program for

is whose births have not been registered and certified due to such fa
poverty, distance, or lack of literacy. The Sangguniang Barangay shall assist in the

implementation of the program through the Barangay Civil Registration System.

The Office of the Civil Registrar General (OCRG), the Department of Interior
and Local Government ), and the National Com: Ir is Peoples
(NCIP) shall jointly prepare a Free Delayed Registration Program for Indigenous
Peoples which shall be implemented by the local government units and the NCIP
regional or local offices in the localities concerned.



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4480_

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the National Stati
shail issue implementing rules and regulations for the free delayed regis

certification of birth covering the foregoing.

SECTION 11. Registration and Certification of Death. — No human body
‘shall be buried unless the proper death certificate has been presented and rect med
with the C/MCR. The physician who attended to the deceased or,
health officer concerned, or in default of the latter, any member of the family of the
deceased, or any person having knowledge of the death, shall report the same to the
local health authorities who shall issue a death certificate and shall order the same to
be recorded with the C/MCR. The death certificate shall be accomplished by the
attending physician or, in his or her absence, the proper health officer. It shall contain
the following data which may be furnished by the person reporting the death:

(a) Full name of the deceased;

(b) Sex

(c) Civil status;

(d) Nationality:

(e) Date of death;

(f) Place of death;

(g) Cause of death; and

(h) Such other data that may be required.

The surname used by the deceased person, when stili living, will be the
surname to be used on the death certificate. Registration shall be made within thirty
(30) days from the time of death with the C/MCR of the place where the death
occurred.

in the absence of the he. nitative in the piace
of registration, or when it is a non-working day and the health officer or his authorized
representative is not expected to be in his/her office, the death should be reported
within forty-eight (48) hours after its occurrence by the nearest kin of the deceased, or
by any person having knowledge of the death to the mayor, any member of
Sangguniang Bayan, icipal secretary, who shall issue and sign the medi
certification portion of the Certificate of Death for burial and registration purposes.



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 4480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

When the death is under medico-legal examination, or where a case of death
is under investigation by the National Bureau of investigation (NBI) or other
investigative agency of the government, and w 1@ body of the deceased is
subjected to an autopsy or examination by the medico-legal officers and the deceased
has not been registered in the place of death, the head of the NBI or other investigative
agency or their authorized representative shall cause the registration of such death
throu h ithe health offic cer of the city or municipality where the death occurred. The

h and sign the medical certification of the

Cartioate of Death.

Registration of fetal death shall follow the same procedures in the registration
of death. A death not registered within the prescribed thirty (30) days period may be
allowed delayed registration with the C/MCR of the place where the death occurred.

Out-of-town registration of death may also be allowed.

SECTION 12. Registration of Marriage License. — The local civil registrar
concerned shall enter all applications for marriage licenses filed with him/her in a
registry book strictly in the order in which the same are received. The names of the
applicants, the date on which the marriage license was issued and such other data as
may be necessary shall be recorded in the said book.

SECTION 13. Application for Marriage License. — All applications for

marviage licenses shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of Executive Order
No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines, as amended,

SECTION 14. Registration and Certification of Marriage. — All civil officers,
priests, ministers, wali, imam, and tribal leaders authorized to solemnize marriage
sh four copies of the Certificate of Marriage for registratio: the C/MCR of
the place where the marriage was solemnized within fifteen (15) days after the
marriage. Marriages exempt from the license requirement shall be registered within
thirty (30) days after the marriage in the city or municipality where it was solemnized.

A person whose marriage has not yet been registered with the C/MCR of the
place where the marriage was solemnized or celebrated may be allowed delayed
registration.


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4480.

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

Out-of-town registration of marriage may also be allowed.

SECTION 15. Multiple Registration. — in cases if muitipte registratior
marriage, or death, the first duly registered document shall prevail. However, in cases
of multiple marriages occurring to the same parties, it shall be the first valid marriage
that shalll prevail.

SECTION 16. Registration of Solemnizing Officers. — Except as may
otherwise be provided by law or existing rules, all solemnizing officers shall be
registered with the Office of the National Statistician. The C/MCR may assist the local
chief executive in determining documents pertaining to the existence of religious sect.

SECTION 17. Registration of Court Orders. — In cases of court issues an
order concerning the status of persons, it shall be the duty of the clerk of court to
advise the successful petitioner to have the order registered with the C/MCR of the
place where the court sits.

If a person other than the petitioner shall register the order, the C/MCR shall
verify if the copy of the order is authentic. Unverified copies shall be refused
registration.

The LCRO where the event of the order was registered shall forward a certified
true copy of the order to the C/MCR where the event affected was originally registered.
The iatter shali make the proper annotations in the documents and in the appiicabie
registry book. The LCRO shall likewise send a certified true copy of the annotated
document and the registered court order to the National Statistician. Each corrected
document shall be reported to the National Statistician during the usual reporting
month. All court orders shall be registered within fiteen (15) days after its finality.

ed period shail be considered de

SECTION 18. Registration of Adoption. — After the court decision on an
adoption has become final and executory, the Original Certificate of Live Birth shall be
amended. An amended certificate of live birth of the adopted shall be issued by the
C/MCR of the place where the birth of the adopted child was recorded. It shall have
the same entries as those appearing in the original records of birth, except for the
following items of information:



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.
erence

(a) Name of the adopted — the first name of the adopted child shall be the same
as that in the original certificate of live birth unless the order of adoption
carried an order changing it to another name. The middie name of the
adopted child shall be the same as the middle name of the adopter, except
when the husband and the wife jointly adopted the child, in which case, the
middle name of the adopted shall be the surname of the adopting mother.
The surname of the adopted child shall be that of the adopter. If the husband
and v tly adopted the child, the adopted child shall use the surname
of the adopting father.

(b) Names of parents — the names of the natural parents of the adopted child
shall be substituted by the names of the adopting parents whose names
shall be indicated in the appropriate spaces in the amended certificate of
live birth as the father or mother, as the case may be: and

(c) Other information — other information about the adopting parents such as
citizenship and religion shall be indicated in the appropriate spaces in the
amended certificate of live birth, including the date and place of marriage of
the adopting parents, in cases where the husband and wife jointly made the
adoption.

In case the adopted child is a foundling, the basis for issuance of an amended
certificate of live birth shall be the court order.

SECTION 19. Registration of Presumptive Death. — A judicial order or decree
deciaring a person presumably dead shali be registered with the C/MCR of the piace
where the first marriage was registered. Annotations for the purpose of contracting a
subsequent marriage shall be recorded in the marriage register as well as in the
marriage certificate.

20. Registration of Court Orders Decided Abroad. — All foreign
court orders involving the civil status of persons residing in the Philippines shall be
registered before the Local Civil Registry Office where the affected document is
registered. In order for the foreign court order to be binding in the Philippine
jurisdiction, the same must be confirmed by the appropriate Regional Trial Court which
have the lawf. n over such case.



Republic of the Philippines
House of Reprosentatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4480.

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

SECTION 21. Registration of Legal Instruments. - As a general rule, all legal
instruments shall be registered in the civil registry of the place where they were
execuied except tiie following:

(a) Affidavit of reappearance — where the parties to the subsequent marriage

are residing;

(b) Marriage Settlement — where the marriage was recorded;

(c) Admission of Paternity, Acknowledgement, Legitimation, Voluntary

Emancipation of Minor, Artificial Insemination — where the birth of the child
was recorded.

All legal instruments executed abroad shall be registered in the Office of Civil
Registry in Manila including all legal instruments which may be executed in the
Philippines if the vital events referred to in the latter instruments occurred in a foreign
country and duly registered with the Philippine Consulate.

All legal instruments shall be affected through annotation in the civil registry
document.

SECTION 22. Registration of Affidavit of Reappearance. - A sworn
statement of the facts and circumstances of reappearance shall be recorded in the
civil registry office of the residence of the parties to the subsequent marriage at the
instance of any interested person, with due notice to the spouse of the subsequent
marriage and without prejudice to the fact of reappearance being judicially determined
in case such fact is disputed.

SECTION 24. Registration of Affidavit of Acknowledgement or Affidavit of
Admission of Paternity. — It shall be the duty of the parent/s who executed the
affidavit of acknowledgment or of admission of paternity to send the original copy of
the affidavit to the C/MCR where the birth of the child was registered, for registration
in the Register of Legai instruments and proper annotation in the Register of Births.

SECTION 25. Option to Elect Philippine Citizenship. - The option to elect
Philippine citizenship in accordance with Section (3), Article IV of the Constitution shall
be expressed in a statement to be signed and sworn to by the party concerned before
any officer authorized to administer oaths, and shall be filed and registered with the
C/MCR of the place where the instrument was executed. Election of Philippine
citizenship executed, subscribed and sworn to before a Consular Officer of the


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

Philippine Embassy abroad, together with the oath of allegiance, shall be registered
with the LCRO of Manila.

SECTION 26. Registration of Repatriation. - The instrument of repatriation
and oath of allegiance to the Constitution and the government of the Philippines shall
be filed with the C/MCR of the place where the instrument was executed; Provided,
That if the Philippine citizenship is reacquired by naturalization, the order of the court
granting citizenship shall be recorded in the Register of Court Order.

SECTION 27. Registration of Muslim Filipinos, Indigenous Cultural
Communities (ICCs) or Indigenous Peoples (IPs). - Within one (1) month from the
effectivity of this Act, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in collaboration with the
National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), National Commission on Muslim
Filipinos (NCMF), Philippine Association of Civil Registrars, National Commission on
Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and duly recognized anthropologists and selected elders
and leaders of Indigenous Peoples, shall establish an Indigenous Peoples Civil
Registration System (IPCRS) that is sensitive and appropriate to the unique cultural
practices and identification systems of Indigenous Peoples: Provided, That the ICPRS
shail be h registry.

ed with existi

laws and syste

shail be f

Indigenous Peoples shall be exempted from the payment of all fees in the
recording of their birth, marriage, and death at the Local Civil Registry Office and such
exemption shall extend to any fine or fee for late registration. They are likewise
exempted from the payment of notarial fees and documentary stamp tax in cases
where the recording of the birth, marriage, or death requires the execution of affidavits
or sworn statements and similar documents.

SECTION 28. Registration of Children in Need of Special Protection
(CNSP) and Foundlings. - Within one (1) month from the effectivity of this Act, the
pine Statistics Authority (PSA), i Welfare and
Development (DSWD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the
Philippine Association of Civil Registrars shall establish an appropriate and cohesive
civil registration of Children in Need of special Protection (CNSP) when applicable and
Foundlings in consonance with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child (UNCRC).



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

SECTION 29. Civil Registry Documents are Public Documents. - The
registry books making up the civil register and all documents relating thereto shall be
considered public documents and shail be prima facie evidence of the truth of the facts
therein contained. They shall be open to the public during office hours and shall be
kept in a secured place that shall be furnished to the civil registrar at the expense or
thru the funds of the municipality concerned.

The civil registrar shal! not, under any circumstances, permit any do:
entrusted to his/her care be removed from his/her office, except upon lawful order of
the court, in which case the proper receipt shall be secured. The civil registrar may
issue certified copies of any documents filed upon payment of proper fees fixed by
municipal ordinance.

SECTION 30. Digital/Electronic Reporting of Births, Death, and Marriages.
- There shall be a compulsory reporting of all occurrences of births, deaths, and
marriages from all barangays of the Philippines. Barangay Secretaries or their
authorized representatives shall be responsible for reporting these events using
appropriate and duly-inspected secure electronic devices to the Local Civil Registrar
and the Philippine Statistics Authority, and other government agencies mandated by
law to monitor the status of registration of vital civil registry events, and shall assist the
subsequent registration thereof.

SECTION 31. Establishment of the National Civil Registry Database - A
Nationai Civil Registry Database shail be established in coordination with the National
Computer Center and the PSA, PACR, and DILG.

SECTION 32. Digitization of Civil Registry Files and Documents. — All
registered files and documents with the Local Civil | Registrars and the PSA shall be
ized. in addition to the usual reports and forwarding of the
digitized files shall also be submitted to the PSA as back-up files of the National Civi
Registry Database for digital archiving purposes.

SECTION 33. Expenses of the Office of the Civil Registrar. — All expenses
in connectior ind operations of the civil registrar's office shall
be paid out of local government unit funds and for this purpose, the Sangguniang of
the Municipalities or Cities concerned shall make the necessary appropriation
available.



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. $480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

SECTION 34. Fees. — Registration of births, foundlings, deaths, and marriages
is mandatory anid compulsory and shall be absolutely free of charge. For registration
of court orders, legal instruments, and registrable administrative orders, a standard
fee shall be collected.

The local government unit may collect reasonable service fees. For issuance
of civil registry documents, a standard fee shall be collected.

of co}

SECTION 35. False Statements. — Any person who shall knowingly make false
‘statements in the furnished forms and present the same for entry in the civil registers
shall be penalized in accordance with law.

SECTION 36. Non-payment not a ground for withhoiding of documents. —
In no case shall failure to settle hospital bills, in full or in part, be a ground for non-
delivery or withholding of the certificate of live birth or certificate of death or documents
required in the issuance of the said certificates.

SECTION 37. implementing Rules aiid Reguiations (IRR). — Within sixty (60)
days from the effectivity of this Act, the PSA shall promulgate the IRR of the effective
implementation of this Act. The PSA may consult with relevant government agencies,
NGOs, CSOs, and other institutions in the formulation of the IRR.

SECTION 38. Mandatory Ri - This Act shall undergo 2 mandatory
review of its provisions by Congress every ten (10) years to make the laws more
responsive to the needs of times.

SECTION 39. Appropriations. - Such amount as may be necessary for its the
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 40. Separabi Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 41. Repealing Ciause. - All iaws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
deemed repealed or modified accordingly.


Cc
ire
Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

5a
Frise

«

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4480

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

SECTION 42. Effecti

ity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

ii the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.