SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
s.No.~5 
Senatr 
{I\)H.;. ,.! HI' ~,,"t.fU 
'13 
JUL -3 P12 :23 
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Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The governor, as the "father of the province," looks after the general 
welfare of the inhabitants of component cities and municipalities of the province. 
As the chief executive of the provincial government, the governor's powers, 
duties and functions as stated in chapter 3, Articfe One, Section 465 of the Local 
Government Code (LGC) are similar to those exercised by the municipal or city 
mayor with minor exceptions, such as the authority to solemnize marriages. The 
LGC grants mayors the authority to solemnize marriages within' their jurisdiction. 
No similar power, however, is granted to the governor. 
As such, this bill seeks to grant the governor the same power to solemnize 
marriages to enable himlher to be of better service to his/her constituents. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
,S!?oah 
<:/9lh;r, (If tQt' j.vf'ftbf\l. . 
'13 
JUL -3 Pl2 :23 
SENATE' 
R T'\, ""Y'-t-' 
s,No,~5 
' 
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Introduced by SENATOR PIA S, CAYETANO 
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AN ACT 
AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 209, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
FAMILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 7 of the Family Code of the Philippines is hereby amended to read 
as follows: 
"Art, 7 Marriage may be solemnized by: 
(1) Any incumbent member of the judiciary within the court's jurisdiction; 
(2) Any priest, rabbi, imam, or minister of any church or religious sect duly 
authorized by his church or religious sect and registered with the civil 
register general, acting within the limits of the written authority granted 
him by his church or religiOUS sect and provided that at least one of the 
contracting parties belongs to the solemnizing officer's church or religiOUS 
sect; 
(3) Any ship captain or airplane chief only in the cases mentioned in 
Article 31; 
(4) Any military commander of a unit to which a chaplain is assigned, in 
the absence of the latter, during a military operation, likewise only in the 
cases mentioned in Article 32; [or] 
(5) Any consul-general, consul or vice-consul in the case provided in 
Article 10; OR 
(6) ANY PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR, WITHIN HISIHER JURISDICTION, " 
SECTION 2. Article 8 of the Family Code of the Philippines is hereby amended to read 
as follows: 
"Art, 8, The marriage shall be solemnized publicly in the chambers of the judge or 
in open court, in the church, chapel or temple, or in the office of the consul-
general, consular vice-consul, OR PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR as the case may 


be, and not elsewhere, except in cases of marriages contracted at the pOint of 
death or in remote places in accordance with Art. 29 of this code, or where both 
of the parties request· the solemnizing officer in writing in which case the 
marriage may be solemnized at a house or place designated by them in a sworn 
statement to that effect. " 
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the official gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general publication. 
Approved,