Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

16° Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4014
Introduced by Rep. LAWRENCE LEMUEL H. FORTUN.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a comprehensive and more responsive civil res
in the county,

tration system.

Civil registration provides the means for the establishment of the identity and the recording
of the vital events in the life of a person which are essential in the recognition and protection of his
civil rights, I is ry system by which the citizenship of a person is established and his or
her inherent rights as a person are respected.

neces:

Also importantly, civil registration affords accurate demographic data and other vital
mnformation that are crucial to the government's planning and policy decisions as wells as the
delivery of such basic services as health, infrastructure, education and social services,

ormous importance, there is a pressing need to introduce and implement
a comprehensive and truly responsive civil registration system. ‘The sad fact, however, is that our
Current civil registration system suffers from deficiencies and flaws that deprive individuals of their
inherent right to identity and recognition as citizens, thereby denying them also of their eivil rights,
In the Philippines, reports have shown that we have not achieved 100 percent registration of births
Estimates have it that presently the births of over 2.6 million Filipino children have not been
registered, not to mention the millions of Filipino adults, including a significant number of
indigenous peoples, whose births have also not been registered, The reasons for most of these
cases have consistently been due to poverty, distance and lack of literacy.

use of its

‘The situation is further exacerbated by some individuals and medical institutions tasked to
register these events but delay or refuse to do so because of unpaid financial obligation on the part
of the family of the new-born child. This is also true in the case of deaths of persons whose
families could not immediately settle in full their obligation to hospitals or clinics, ‘These are
tantamount to deprivation of rights by reason of poverty.

‘This measure thus provides for, among other mechanisms for comprehensive and
responsive civil registration, a Barangay Civil Registration System, Free Delayed Registration
Program for unregistered births duc to poverty and Free Delayed Registration for Indigenous
Peoples

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

16" Congres
First Regular Session.

House Bill No. 014

Tatoduced by Rep, LAWRENCE LEMUEL H FORTUN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL REGISTRATION SYSTEM

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

SECTION 1, Short Title. - ‘This Act shall be known as the *Ci jon Act of 2014."

l Registr

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

SECTION 3. Coverage, - This law embra
Philippines and all Filipinos abroad,

acts affecting the civil status of persons in the

SECTION 4, Definition of Terms. - (a) “Civil Registration” refers (0 the continuous, permanent
and compulsory documentation of occurrence and characteristics of vital events, including
modifications thereof during the lifetime of a person, namely births, deaths, marriages, judicial
‘administrative orders and legal instruments

(b) “Civil Register” refers to Ue various civil registry books where events and judicial decrees
concerning the civil slatus of persons are recorded, and to related certificates and documents kept
in the archives of the Local Civil Registry Ollice, Philippine Consulates, National Statistics Office
‘and Shari'a Distiet or Circuit Courts.

(©) “Civil Registry Documents” refers to all certificates and documents relating to civil st
persons which are recorded and kept in the archives of the Local Civil Registry Office, Philippine
Consulates, National Statistics Olice and Shari'a Distriet or Circuit Courts.

nal Statistics Office,

(a) “Civil Registrar General” refers to the head of the Nati

(€) “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 Distrit or Cireuit Courts,

() “Distiet or Circuit Registrar" refers (0 the Clerk of Shari'a District or Circuit Court performing
civil registration functions with regard to Muslim marriages, divorces, revocations of divorce and
conversions under Title VI, Book Two of Presidential Decree No. 1083, otherwise known as the
‘Code of Muslim Personal Laws,

(® “Barangay Civil Registration n” refers 0 a strategy (o 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 894 (d)(5), Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of the Philippines.

(h) “Legal Instrument” refers to the allidavits/aflirmation pertaining to civil registration,


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Section 5. Duties and Functions of the Civil Registrar General. - The Civil Registrar General
shall have the following duties and functions:

{@) Enforce the provisions of this Act;

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

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

(@) Give orders and instructions to the C/MCRs on civil registratio

{c) Endorse for investigation any complaint for violation of this Act and all irvegutarities to the
local chief executive and other duly authorized agencies}

(Reproduce and issue documents under its custody and prepare and order the printing of

ry forms; and

| fees for civil registry documents

Section 6, Duties of the City/Municipal Civil Registrar (C/MCR). - ‘The appointment of the
C/MCRs shall be mandatory for city and municipal governments. ‘The C/MCR shall be
responsible for the civil registration programs in the local government unit (LGU) pursuant (0 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 govemor or mayor as the case may be,
implement the same, particultly those which have to do with civil registry programs and projects
which the mayor is empowered to implement and which the Sanyggunian is empowered to provide
for. ‘The C/MCR shall

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

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

(© Compile the registrable certificates and documents monthly and prepare and send any
information required of them by the Civil Registrar General;

(@ Issue certified transcripts or copies of any certificate or documents registered during the
years,

(©) Order the binding properly classified or digitized, of all certificates or documents
registered during the year;

(© Send to the Civil Registrar General within the
‘entries made during the preceding month,

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

(h) Administer oaths for civil registry purposes free of charge;

@ Accept all registrable documents and judicial decrees/orders affecting the civil status of
persons;

(File, keep and preserve ina secure place the books required by law;

® Transcribe and enter immediate upon receipt all registrable documents and judicial
decrees affecting the civil status of person in the appropriate civil registry boo}

@ Receive applications for the issuance of a marriage license and, aficr 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

month a copy of

t ten (10) days of ea

treasurer;

(n) Coordinate with the Office of the Civil Registrar General (OCRG) in conducting education
campaigns for civil registration and assist in the preparation of demographic and other

atistics for the LGU concemed;

(x) Recommend to the Civil Registrar General systems and procedur
formulation of policies, rules and regulations on civil registration;

(0) 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
‘und procedures established by the OCRGs and

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

relative to. thx

Section 7. Civil Registry Book. - The C/MCR shall keep and preserve in their offices the
following books in which they shall xecordingly enter the proper record concerning the civil status
of persons: (I) Register of Births; (2) Register of Foundlings; (8) Register of Deaths; (4) Register of
Marriages; (6) Register of Court Decrees or Orders; (6) Register of Legal Instruments; (7) Register
of Applications for Marriage License; (8) Register of Conversions to Islam; (9) Register of Muslim
Divorces; (10) Register of Revocation of Muslim Divorces; (I) Register of Indigenous Cultural



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Communities or Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) Marriage Dissolutions; (12) Register of ICCs/IPs
Revocation of Marriage Dissolutions; and (18) Register of Administrative Orders.

Section 8. Registration and Certification of Birth, - The declaration of the physician, midwife,
attendant at birth, or in the absence thereof, the declaration of either or both parents or any person
who has knowledge of the facts of birth of the new-born 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 (© the C/MCR of the place where the birth
‘occurred within thirty (80) days from the date of birth by the person making the declaration. ‘The
COLB shall declare the following: (a) name of the child; (b) sex; () date of birth; (d) place of
birth; (d) name of mother; (0) name of father; (x) citizenship of the mother; (h) citizenship of the
father; (@ date of marriage of parents; () place of marriage of parents; and (k) such other data as
required in the regulation to be issues

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 charitable institution concerned within thirty (80)
days from the date of finding or commitment of the child with the C/MCR of the place where such
person was born or found.

A deceased person's birth may also 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 be allowed.

‘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:

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

(b) The person’s spouse, parent/s or direct descendants, or guardian or institutions legally-in-
charge of him/her, if such a person is a minor;

(@) The court or proper public officials, when deemed absolutely necessary in administrative,
judicial or other official proceedings to determine the identity of the person's parents or
other circumstances surrounding his/her birth; or

(a) 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 Civil Registrar General shall, within ninety (90) days, from the effectivity of this
‘Act, issue guidelines in the implementation of the System which shall include a regular program for
taining and 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 implementing rules and regulations or the
guidelines in the implementation of the Barangay Civil Registration System,

Section 10, Free Delayed Registration and Certification of Birth. -Local government units are
mandated to implement a free delayed registration program for persons whose births have not
been registered and certified due to such factors as poverty, distance, or lack of literacy. The
Sangguniang Barangay shall assist in the implementation of the program through the Barangay
Civil Registration System.

‘The OCRG, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) shall jointly prepare a Free Delayed Registration
Program for Indigenous Peoples (FDRIP) which shall be implemented by the local government
units and the NCIP regional or local offices in the localities concerned.



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Within (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the OCRG shall issue implementing rules and
regulations for free delayed registration and 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 recorded with the C/MCR. ‘The physician who
attended to the deceased or, in his default, the 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 (1) full name of the
deceased (b) sex; (d) civil status; (c) nationality; (f) date of death; (g) place of death; (h) cause of

death; and (i) such other data that may be required.

‘The surname used by the deceased person, when still living, will be the surname to be used
in the death certificate, Registration shall be made within thirty (80) days from the time death with
the C/MCR of the place where the death occurred.

In the absence of the health officer or his authorized representative in the place of
registration, or when it is a nonworking 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, or the municipal secretary, who shall issue
and sign the medical certification portion of the Certificate of Death for burial and registration
purposes.

When the death is under medico-legal examination, or where a case of death is under
investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBD) or other investigative agency of the
government, and where the 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 representatives shall cause the
registration of such death through the health officer of the city or municipality where the death
occurred, The medico-legal officer shall accomplish and sign the medical certification of the
Certificate of Death

Registration of fetal death shall follow the same procedures in the registration of death. A
death not registered within the prescribed thirty (80) days period may be allowed delayed
registration with the C/MCR of the place where the death occurred.

Outof-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. He/she shall record in said book the names of the applicants, the date on
‘which the marriage license was issued and such other data as may be necessary.

Section 18, Application for Marriage License. - All applications for marriage license 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 shall send four copies of the Certificate
‘of Marriage for registration with 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 (0) 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,

Outoftown registration of marriage may also be allowed.


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Section 15, Multiple Registration. - In cases of multiple registration of birth, 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 shall 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 Civil Registrar
General. The C/MCRs may assist the local chief executive in determining documents pertaining to
the existence of religious sects.

Section 17, Registration of Court Orders. - In cases where the court issues an order concerning
the status of a person, it shall be duty of the clerk of court to advise the successlul petitioner to
have the order registered with the C/MCR of the place where the court is functioning, 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 shill forward a certified true copy of the order to the C/MCR where the event
affected was originally registered. ‘The latter shall make the proper annotations in the documents
and in the applicable regisuy book, He/she shall likewise send a certified true copy of the
annotated document and the registered court order to the OCRG, Bach corrected document shall
be reported to the OCRG during the usual reporting month. All court orders shall be registered
within fifteen (15) days after its finality, Registration after the prescribed period shall be considered
delayed registration,

All court orders shall be effected through annotations in the civil registry document except
in adoption cases where the child shall be entitled to the issuance of an amended birth certificate,

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 te 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:

(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 middle name of the adopted child shall be the same as the middle
ame 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 wife
jointly 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

(©) 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 declaring a person
presumably dead shall be registered with the C/MCR of the place 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 it the marriage certificate.

Section 20, Registration of Court Orders Decided Abroad. - All foreign court orders involving
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 lawful jurisdiction over such case.


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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 executed except the 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, Acknowledgment, Legitimation, Voluntary Emancipation of
Minor, Artificial Insemination - where the birth of the child was recorded,

‘All legal instuments 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 (o 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 swom 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
spouses of the subsequent marriage and without prejudice to the fact of reappearance being
judicially determined in ease such fact is disputed

Section 23, Registration of Affidavit of Acknowledgement or Affidavit of Admission of Paternity, -
I shall be duty of the paren/s who executed the allidavit of acknowledgment or of admission of
paternity to send the original copy of the allidavit to the C/MCR were the birth of the child was
registered, for registration in the Register of Legal Instruments and proper annotation in the
Register of Births.

Section 24, Authorization or Ratification of Artificial Insemination, - Children conceived as a
result of artificial insemination of the wife with the sperm of the husband or that of'a donor or both
shall be considered legitimate children of the husband and wife; Provided, That both of them
authorized or ratified such insemination in a written instrument executed and signed by both of
them before the birth of the of the child. ‘The instrument shall be recorded in the civil register
together with the birth certificate of the child

1 25, Option to Elect Philippine Citizenship. - The option to elect Philippine citizenship in
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 die C/MCR of the place where the instrument was executed,
Election of Philippine citizenship executed, subscribed and swom to before a Consular Officer of
the Philippine Embassy abroad, together with the oath of allegiance, shall be registered with the
LCRO of Manila,

Secti
accordance with Section (

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) and Children in Need of Special Protection (CNSP).- Muslim Filipinos,
ICCs/IPs and CNSP, by reason of their sociocultural, religious and peculiarities shall be registered
as follows:

a, Muslim Filipinos civil registration shall be governed by Presidential Decree No. 1083,
executive Order NO, 157 and Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2005,

b. ICCs/IPs civil registration shall be governed by Republic Act No. 8371 and Administrative
Order No. 3, Series of 2004.

c. CNSP civil registration shall follow the procedures provided under the OCRG
Memorandum Circular 2004-01 and other promulgations by the OCRG in coordination
with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other concerned agencies,

Section 28, Civil Registry Documents are Public Documents, - The registry books making up the
civil register and all civil register and all documents relating thereto shall be considered public


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documents and shall be prima facie evidence of the wuth of the facts therein cont d, They shall
be open to the public during office hours and shall be kept in @ secured place that shall be
furnished to the civil registrar at the expense or thru the funds of the municipality concerned.

‘Phe civil registrar shall not, under any circumstances, permit any document entrusted to and
his/her care to be removed [rom his/her office, except upon lawlul order of the court, in which
case the proper receipt shall be secured. The civil regiswar may issue certified copies of any
documents filed upon payment of proper fees fixed by municipal ordinance.

Section 29, Expenses of the Office of the Civil Registrar. - All expenses in connection with the
establishment and operations of the civil registrar’s office shall be paid out of municipal funds and
for this purpose, the Sangguinian of municipalities or cities concerned shall make the necessary
appropriation available,

Section 30. Fees, - Registration of births, foundlings, deaths and marriages is mandatory and
compulsory and shall be 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 copies of civil

registry documents, a standard fee shall be collected.

Section 81. 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 32. Failure to Report and other Violations. - Any person whose duty is to report any fact
concerning the civil status of person and who knowingly fails to perform such duty, or any person
violating the provisions of this Act shall be punished in accordance with law. Any violation of the
proceeding provisions shall be penalized by imprisonment of one year or a fine ranging from
Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) to Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) or both, at the
discretion of the court, The attending physician, midwife, hospital administrator or any other
person in charge of the certificate of live birth and other documents necessary in support thereto
or in relation therewith who knowingly frils to deliver, or withholds the delivery of, these
documents to the C/MCR shall be penalized by imprisonment of not more than six months or a
fine of not more than or a fine ranging from Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000,00) to Thirty
thousand pesos (P30,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.

“Phe attending physician, hospital administrator or any other person in charge of the certificate of
death and other documents necessary in support thereto or in relation therewith who knowingly
{ails to deliver, or withholds the delivery of these documents to the C/MCR shall be penalized by
imprisonment of not more than six months or a fine of not more than or a fine ranging from
Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) to Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00), or both, at the
discretion of the court.

Any officer, priest or minister who: (1) Solemnizes marriage without being authorized by the Civil
Registrar General; (2) Upon solemnizing marriage, refuses to exhibit his authorization when called
upon to do so by the parties, their parents or guardians; (3) Solemnizes or authorizes of a marriage
that is subsequently declared void by his/her church, religion or sect, due to failure to comply with
banns or publications required by the said church, religion or sect as a pre-requisite to the
solemnization of marriage; or (4) Solemnizes marriage in violation of the provisions of this Act,
shall be punished with imprisonment ranging from six months to three years, or a fine ranging
from ‘Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) to Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00), or the
revocation of his/her authority to solemnize marriage, or all three penalties or combination
thereof, at the discretion of ‘he court, Any officer, priest or minister who fails to deliver copies of
the certificate of marriage to the C/MCR within the period fixed by law shall be punished by
imprisonment of not more than six months, or by a fine of not more than Ten thousand pesos
(P10,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.



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4d)

Section 83. Non-payment not a ground for withholding of documents. ~ In no case shall failure to
seitle hospital bills, in full or in part, be @ ground for non-delivery or withholding of the certificate
ol live birth or certificate of death or documents required in the issuance the said certificates.

Section 34, Mandatory Review. - This Act shall undergo a mandatory review of its provisions by
Congress every ten (10) years to make its provisions more responsive to the needs of the times.

Section 85, Separability Clause, - If any part or provision of this Act shall be held to be invalid or
unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to
be in full force and effect,

Section 36, Repealing Clause, - All laws, rules, regulations, orders, memoranda or circulars
inconsistent with this Act are hereby revoked, repealed or modified accordingly,

Section 87. Retroactivity, - This Act shall have retroactive effect insofar as it does not prejudice or
impair vested or acquired rights

Section 88. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (155) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any two national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,