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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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S E N  
E 
S.B. No. 
Introduced By Senator Luisa “Loi” P. Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitutional edict granting equal treatment for both men and women is a 
principle the State endeavors to uphold. Pursuant to this, efforts have been exerted to 
eliminate vestiges of inequalities found in existing laws. 
In Republic Act No. 386, also known as the Civil Code of the Philippines and 
Executive Order 209, also known as the Family Code of the Philippines, a married 
woman continues to be treated as a mere appendage of her husband. 
She is not 
specifically granted the option to use her maiden name and surname. 
The principle of ikndamental equality between men and women necessitates that 
a bill of this nature be passed. By allowing Filipino women to retain their surnames as 
part of their individuality, even aRer marriage or legal separation, we shall be eliminating 
yet another vestige of inequality found in our laws, and translating the constitutional edict 
into a tangible reality. 
In consideration of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
solicited. 
LUISA “LOI” PfiEJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


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THIRTEENlTl CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced By Senator Luisa “Loi” P. Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
ALLOWING MARRIED OR LEGALLY SEPARATED WOMEN TO USE THEIR 
MAIDEN FIRST NAME AND SURNAME, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT No. 386, ALSO KNOWN AS TBE CIVIL CODE OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, ARTICLES 370 AND 372, AND ARTICLE 53, EXECUTIVE 
ORDER 209, SERIES OF 1987, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FAMILY CODE OF 
THE P€€ILWPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate a& the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 3 70 of Republic Act Numbered Three Hundred Eighty- 
Six, is hereby further amended to read as follows. 
“Article 370. A married woman may use: 
(1) 
HERMATDENFIRSTNAMEAND 
SURNAME; or 
(2) 
Her maiden first name and surname and add her 
husband’s surname; or 
(3) 
Her maiden first name and her husband’s 
surname; or 
(4) 
Her husband’s full name, but prefexing a word 
indicating that she is his wife, such a “Mrs.” 
SECTION 2. Article 372 of the same Act is hereby further amended to read as 
follows: 
“Article 372. When legal separation has been granted, the 
wife MAY EITHER continue using her name and surname 
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employed before the legal separation OR HER MAIDEN FIRST 
NAME AND SURNAME.” 
SECTION 3, Article 63 of Executive Order No. 209, series of 1987, also known 
as the Family Code of the Philippines, is hereby amended, a new paragraph to be 
numbered as paragraph 5 is hereby inserted to read as follows; 
“Article 63. The decree of legal separation shall have the following effects: 
(1) 
The spouses shall be entitled to live separately fiom each other, but 
the marriage bonds shall not be severed; 
The absolute community or the conjugal partnership shall be 
dissolved and liquidated but the offending spouse shall have no 
right to any share of the net profits earned by the absolute 
community or the conjugal partnership, which shall be forfeited in 
accordance with the provisions of Article 43 (2); 
The custody of the minor children shall be awarded to the innocent 
spouse, subject to the provisions of Article 213 of this Code; 
The offending spouse shall be disqualified fiom inheriting from the 
innocent spouse by intestate succession. Moreover, provisions in 
favor of the offending spouse made in the will of the innocent 
spouse shall be revoked by operation of law;” AND 
THE WIFE SHALL HAVE THE OPTION TO CONTINUE 
USING HER NAME BEFORE THE LEGAL SEPARATION OR 
HER MATDEN FIRST NAME AND SURNAME.” 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
(5) 
SECTION 4. Repealing claccse. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. 
Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
GLWslee bills1 violethemuiden$rst nume and surname 
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