TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
'OlU'..' of I "■
25 JUL 14 P3 :47
SENATE 
S.B. No. ^r63
RfCEiVFD B •
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND RESPONSIVE CIVIL 
REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM, PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
A 2014 case study of the Philippines' current Civil Registration and Vital 
Statistics System (CRVS) revealed that there are approximately 7.5 million Filipinos 
whose births are still not registered. The majority of those unregistered belong to 
some of the most vulnerable sectors of our society, namely: Indigenous and Muslim 
population groups.1 The lack of a formal civil registration of a person endangers their 
safety, nationality, and citizenship. As of May 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority 
reported that there are approximately 3.7 million Filipinos with no birth certificates— 
with 40 percent of those being children.
Civil registration documents, such as a child's birth certificate, establish a 
person's legal identity and therefore becomes a vital source of information for the 
country's legislators, policy makers, and implementing agencies. Civil registration 
documents and vital statistics provide a picture of the country that will be used to 
rationalize, create, implement, and direct government efforts to Improve the well­
being of Filipinos. As such, the existence of a highly-developed CRVS is an important 
national resource and therefore invaluable in facilitating public delivery service among 
citizens.
The importance of CVRS cannot be understated: the lack of official documents 
of a child means that their existence is not recognized by the State and could be the 
reason to be denied access from essential public services like health, education, and 
social services. To protect children from these circumstances. Article 7 of the 
Convention on the Rights of the Child states that: 'The child shall be registered 
immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to 
acquire a nationality, and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his 
or her parents."
1 https://www.getinthepicture.org/sites/default/files/resources/phl_crvs_case_study_2014.pclf
1


This proposed measure addresses the current gaps in our CRVS and seeks to 
establish a comprehensive and responsive CRVS. In view of the foregoing, the 
immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS 
Senator


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
ssi’rt-: ■'
'Siiiri' 6{ t 'C T
2b JUL 14 P3 '47
SENATE
S.B. No.
563
RECEIVED 6V
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND RESPONSIVE CIVIL 
REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM, PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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 "Comprehensive and 
Responsive Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act".
Sec, 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall promote and maintain an 
efficient, responsive, inclusive, and accessible civil registration and vital statistics 
system. Towards this end, standardization and modernization of registration 
procedures is necessary to establish the identity of an individual for administrative and 
legal purposes. Moreover, efficient and simplified procedures in recording vital events 
must be applied in civil registration in order to establish the most precise identity of 
an individual for the benefit of the general public.
The State declares the registration of all births, deaths, and marriages without 
discrimination as a national State policy.
The state seeks to harmonize this policy with national frameworks on civil 
registration on the principle of Inclusivity, accessibility, and cultural-sensitivity, 
covering the Code of Muslim Personal Laws (PD 1083), recognizing children born to 
parents below the marrying age and out of wedlock (RA 9858) and allowing illegitimate 
children to use the surname of their father (RA 9255). The national state policy 
envisions to build an efficient civil registry system, comprising the rectification of errors


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in terms of name, birthdate, sex without the need of judicial order (RA 1072), ease in
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declaring a child legally-available for adoption (RA 9523) and registering children in
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cases of rectified birth simulation (RA 11222). The State concedes through the
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Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 in promoting the welfare and rights of
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children, by reducing their vulnerability.
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In the Implementation of the policy stated above, the State, in enacting this
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Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act, institutionalizes and hereby maintains a legal
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framework related to the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), ensuring a
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system that provides equal access that is affordable, available, and that provides
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protection of the rights of all citizens, especially children. Such system is also ensuring
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the gathering of statistics and easier retrieval and recording of statistics.
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The enactment of this policy, reaffirms the commitment of the State to the
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International standards and recommendations, according to the principles of the
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universal human right to be recognized as a person before the law (UDHR Art.VI), to
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children's right to nationality, registration after birth (UN CRC Art. VII), the right to
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identity (UN CRC Art. VIII), the right to be protected from discrimination based on
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race, sex, color, language, religion, national or social origins (ICCPR Art. XXIV), the
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right to nationality of persons with disabilities (CRPD Art. XVIII), the right of
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adolescents to birth registration (UNCRC GC 20, Art. VIII), the right of children In
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street situations to be proactively supported to obtain legal identity documents and
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the right of all children at all ages to free, accessible, simple and expeditious birth
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registration (UN CRC GC 21, Art. XV), the right of all Filipino migrant workers to be
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recognized as a person of the law (ICMW, Art. XXIV) on CRVS, and to steadfastly
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adhere to the Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence Against Children
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( =RPA-EVAC) in the ASEAN region.
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The State shall endeavor to facilitate the realization of the people's rights and
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support good governance, health, and development through the universal and
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responsive CRVS system. In this light, the State shall work towards reaching the
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following goals from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Declaration
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of Civil Registration in Southeast Asia:
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Goal 1: Universal civil registration of all births, deaths, marriages, and other
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vital events based on accurate data;


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Goal 2. Entitlement of all individuals to legal documentation of civil registration
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of their births, deaths, marriages, and other vital events, as necessary, to claim
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identity, civil status, and ensuing rights;
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Goal 3: Production and dissemination of accurate, complete, and timely vital
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statistics (including the cause of death) are produced based on registration
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records.
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Goal 4: Free, accessible, simple, and free expeditious birth registration is
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provided to all children at all ages.
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Goal 5; The civil registration documents are used as main tools for child
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protection in relation to education, health, and other social services, justice,
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inheritance, and family reunification
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Sec. 3. Coverage. - This law shall embrace all acts, events, and judicial and
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administrative issuances affecting the civil status and vital statistics of persons in the
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Philippines and all Filipino citizens abroad, including all children with at least one
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Filipino parent.
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Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms are
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defined as follows:
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a) Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS) - refers to a scheme to facilitate
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extensive civil registration at the barangay level involving all barangay officials
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assisting the Local Civil Registrars (LCR) In civil registration work, as provided
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in Section 394 (d) (5) RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code
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of the Philippines;
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b) Birth Attendant - refer exclusively to persons with midwifery skills such as
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licensed doctors, midwives, and nurses who have been trained to proficiency
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in the skills necessary to manage normal deliveries and diagnose, manage, or
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refer obstetric complications;
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c) Child - any person below 18 years of age or older who is unable to fully take
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care of himself/herself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or
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discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition;
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d) Children in Need of Special Protection (CNSP) - shall refer to all persons
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below 18 years of age, or those 18 years old and over but are unable to take
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care of themselves because of physical or mental disability condition; who are


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vulnerable to or are victims of abuse, neglect, exploitation, crueity, 
discrimination, and violence (armed conflict, domestic violence, and other 
analogous conditions prejudicial to their deveiopment)
e) Circuit Registrar - refers to the Clerk of Court of a Shari'a Circuit Court 
performing as Circuit Registrar of Muslim marriages, divorces, revocations of 
divorces, and conversions with the respective court's jurisdiction, as provided 
in Title VI, Book Two of Presidential Decree No. 1083 otherwise known as the 
Code of Muslim Personai Laws;
f) Civii Registration - refers to the continuous, permanent, universal and 
compulsory documentation of occurrences and characteristics of vital events in 
the life of a person, including any modifications thereof during his lifetime and 
until his death, as provided for by this Act;
g) Civil Register - refers to the various civil registry books and related 
certificates and documents where registrable acts, events, and judicial and 
administrative Issuances concerning the civil status of a person are recorded 
and kept in the archives of the Civil Registrar's Offices, Philippine Consulate 
Offices, Shari'a District and Circuit Courts, and the Philippine Statistics Authority 
(PSA);
h) Civil Registrar (CR) - refers to the head of the Local Civil Registry Office (Civil 
Registrar's Office), the Consul General (CG) in the Philippine Consulate Offices, 
or the Clerk of Court in Shari'a District and Circuit;
i) Civil Registrar General (CRG) - refers to the head of the PSA who is also the 
National Statistician of the government of the Philippines;
j) Consul General (CG) - refers to the head of a Philippine Consuiate Office 
acting as Civil Registrar of all civil registry documents Involving Filipinos in a 
foreign country;
k) Civil Registry Document - refers to a certificate or any document relating to 
the civil status of a person which Is recorded and kept in the archives of the 
Civil Registrar's Offices, Philippine Consulate Offices, Shari'a District and Circuit 
courts and the PSA;
l) District Recorder (DR) - refers to the Clerk of Court of the Shari'a District 
Court performing civil registration-related functions as District Recorder of


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Muslim marriages, divorces, revocation of divorces, and conversions with the 
respective court's territorial jurisdiction, as provided in Title VI, Book Two of 
Presidential Decree No. 1083 otherwise known as the Code of Muslim Personal 
Laws;
m) Foundling - any person who is abandoned and whose parentage is 
unknown;
n) Legal Instrument - refers to any legal documents that would be officially 
issued pursuant to this act;
o) Live Birth - refers to a complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a 
product/s of conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which 
after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as 
beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of 
voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the 
placenta is attached;
p) Local Archive Authority (LAA) - refers to the LCR or his authorized official of 
the LCRO of each Local Government Unit who has the duty to establish, keep 
and maintain the local archives, to include its mandatory digitization of all civil 
registry documents for the herein provided Digital Linkages and 
Interconnection of All Participating LRCOs.
q) Local Civil Registrar (LCR) - refers to the head of the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S 
OFFICE;
r) National Statistician - the head of the PSA acting as the CRG for the purpose 
of this Act;
s) Out-of-Town Reporting - occurs when the certificate of live birth or death is 
presented to the civil registrar of a city or municipality which is not the place of 
birth or death, not for registration but to be forwarded to the civil registrar of 
the city or municipality where the birth or death occurred and where it should 
be registered; and
t) Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) - refers to the central statistics authority 
of the Republic of the Philippines headed by the National Statistician.
Sec. 5. The Civil Registry System. - The Civil Registry System is composed of 
Civil Registrar General (CRG), the City/Municipal Civil Registrar and the Barangay


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Civil Registration System. The Civil Registry System issues registry Instruments,
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recommends and executes policies related to the civil registration of vital events, from
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the national and local civil registry structures of the State.
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Sec. 6. Duties and Function of the Civii Registrar Genera! (CRG). - The Office
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of the Civil Registrar General shall have the following duties and functions:
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(a) Policy-making Functions.
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(l)The CRG has the following poiicy-making functions and
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responsibilities on the Civil Registry System.
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(2) Prepare and promulgate the implementing rules and regulations
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pertaining to civil registration laws and all subsequent Issuances relative
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thereto, in close collaboration with the DILG and the PACR; and
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(3) Issue circulars and memoranda pertaining to civil registration
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enhancements as part of the functions of the OCRG;
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(b) Provision of Technical Support to Local Civil Registry Offices.
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(1) Provide exercise technical supervision over the City/Municipal Civil
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Registrar (C/MCRs) and other Local Civil Registry Officers; and
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(2) provide ways and means to assist Civil Registrars for the
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reconstruction of Local Archives as the need arises.
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(c) National Civil Registry Depository.
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(1) Act as the national central depository of all civil registry documents
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submitted to the OCRG for archiving from all civil registry offices of the
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Phiiippines, for back up database and statistical analysis purposes only.
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Sec. 7. Duties of the City/Municipa! Civil Registrar. - The appointment of
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C/MCRs shall be mandatory for city and municipal governments. The C/MCR shall be
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have the following duties and functions:
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(a) Primary Authority in Local Civil Registration. The C/MCR is responsible for
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the civil registration programs in the local government unit concerned, pursuant
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to this Act, other existing laws, rules and regulations. This includes the following
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responsibilities:
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(1) Administer oaths, free of charge, for civil registry purposes,
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(2) Exercise quasi-judicial functions in cases of clerical or typographical
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errors and change of first name or nickname, the day and month In the


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date of birth or sex of a person where it is patently clear that there was 
a clerical or typographical error or mistake in the entry, or the petitioner 
for the change of first name or nickname finds the first name or 
nickname to be ridiculous, tainted with dishonor or extremely difficult to 
write or pronounce, has been habitually and continuously used by the 
petitioner and has been publicly known by that first name in the 
community or the change will avoid the confusion as provided for under 
existing laws.; and
(3) Submit status reports to the CRG on the condition of civil registry 
documents filed his/her civil registry office whenever there are 
substantial changes in the status of his files, in case of fire, flood, 
earthquake and other natural and or manmade calamities.
(b) Issuance and Organization of Local Civil Registry Documents. As much as 
practicable, assist in the preparation, accept and register all registrable events 
and documents occurring within his or her jurisdiction affecting the civil status 
of persons. This function entails the following:
(1) Make civil registry forms available at all times in the civil registry 
office;
(2) File registrable certificates and documents presented to him or her 
for entry;
(3) Issue certified transcripts or copies of any certificate or document 
registered, upon payment of the prescribed fees;
(4) Compile copies of every document registered and transmit to CRG 
within the first ten (10) calendar days of the succeeding month;
(5) 
Receive all registrable documents and transcribe in the 
corresponding civil register all documents accepted for registration; and
(6) Receive applications for the issuance of a marriage license and after 
determining that the requirements and supporting certificates and 
publication thereof for the prescribed period have been complied with, 
shall issue the license upon payment of the authorized fee for the local 
treasurer.


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(c) Depository of Local Registry. The C/MR shall have the following duties and
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functions in securing the local registry:
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(1) File, keep and preserve In a secured place the civil registry books as
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required by law;
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(2) Reconstruct destroyed civil registry records upon compliance with
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the requirements following the procedures established by the CRG; and
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(3) Classify, digitize, index and preserve all registered documents in
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accordance with the appropriate archiving procedures.
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(d) Executory and Planning Functions. The C/MCR shall develop plans and
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strategies and upon approve thereof by the mayor, implement the same,
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particularly those which pertains to civil registry programs and projects.
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(e) Provide Civil Reg stry Education and Technical Support. Conduct community
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education campaigns on vital registration and assist In the preparation of
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demographic and other statistics for the local government unit concerned, in
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particular the Barangay Civil Registration System;
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(f) Recommendatory functions aiding policies on Local Civil Registration.
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Recommend to the legislative bodies and collaborate with administrative
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agencies in the formulation of systems, procedures, policies, rules and
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regulations on civil registration
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Sec. 8. Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS). - There shall be a Barangay
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Civil Registration System established where elected and appointed barangay officials
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shall be mandated to assist in the facilitation of civil registration within their area or
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jurisdiction subject to the provision of this Act.
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a. Structure and Composition. The Barangay Civil Registration System is
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composed of the Barangay Captain, the Barangay Secretary and the Barangay
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Civil Registration Assistant.
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The Barangay Captain shall submit the names of the Barangay Secretary as
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ExOfficio Barangay Civil Registration Officer (BCRO) and other deputized
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barangay officials as Barangay Civil Registration Assistant (BCRA). The BRCA
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shall assist in the registration o' all vital events of every individual within the
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area of jurisdiction to the Local Civil Registrar's Office.


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b. Mandatory Continuing Education and Training Program for the BCRS.
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Pursuant to Sec 13. of this policy, members of the Barangay Civil Registration
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System are required to have regular, updated, culturally sensitive education
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system.
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c. Relationship to National and Local Civil Registry Systems.
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i. The Civil Registrar General (CRG) shall adopt a method in order to establish
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a systematic procedure of recording in the barangay level enabling civil
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registration procedure a universal right of every Filipino.
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ii. The Local Civil Registrar's Office shall engage the barangays to support in
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the implementation of the law, including the provision of fiscal and budgetary
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support.
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iii. Proper networking and interconnectedness between the Local Civil
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Registrar's Office and the barangay shall be ensured In order to attain
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mandatory civil registration of all born Filipinos. The PSA, LGUs, a national
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professional organization of local civil registrars duly registered with the
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Securities and Exchange Commission, and other accredited government or
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private institutions shall conduct regular trainings and capacity building
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programs to upgrade the knowledge and skills in civil registration functions of
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all partners in the Barangay.
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Sec, 9. Culturally-Sensitive Registration System - In collaboration with the
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National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), National Commission on Muslim
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Filipinos (NCMF), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),
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Philippine Association of Civil Registrars, National Commission on Culture and Arts
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(NCCA), and distinguished anthropologists and selected elders and leaders of IPs shall
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establish an Indigenous Peoples Civil Registration System (IPCRS) that is sensitive and
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appropriate to the unique cultural practices and identification systems of IPs: Provided,
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that the IPCRS shall be harmonized with existing laws and systems on civil registry.
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In recording the birth of IPs delivered in the traditional customs and practices
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of the indigenous community, the report as to the circumstances of the birth by any
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of the parents or by the tribal doctor or tribal midwife who attended to the delivery
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shall be conclusive upon the Local Civil Registrar (without need for further proof) and
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PSA.


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The IPCRS shall take into account the various ethnic affiliations of the IPs in
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the country. For this purpose, the PSA Administrator, acting as the Civil Registrar
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General, instead of Issuing separate forms for the IPCRS, shali cause the amendment
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of the existing civii registry forms, for uniformity of ali civil registry documents to
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ensure acceptability by end-user agencies or institutions of the facts and information
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contained in said documents and ease of establishing filial bonds between or among
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parents or parents and child.
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In the absence of any identifying document, the self-ascription or ascription by
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any of the parents or tribal leader or elder shall suffice to establish the identity of IPs
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when applying with the LCR/PSA for recording birth, marriage or death.
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Sec. 10. Registration of Musiim Fiiipinos, Indigenous Cultural Communities
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(ICCs) or Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Children in Need of Special Protection (CNSP).
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- Muslim Filipinos, ICCs or IPS and CNSP, by reason of their socio-cultural, religious,
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and indigenous pecuiiarities, and vulnerabilities, shall be registered as foliows:
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a) Musiim Fiiipinos - civil registration of Muslim Filipinos shail be governed by
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PD 1083, EO 157, and Its impiementing rules and regulations.
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b) Indigenous Peoples - civil registration of indigenous cuiturai communities or
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indigenous peoples shall be governed by RA No. 8371 and its implementing
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ruies and regulations.
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c) CNSP - Civii registration of Chiidren in Need of Speciai Protection shaii be
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governed by the provisions of this act, special laws, and Implementing rules
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and regulations. In coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and
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Development and other concerned agencies.
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Sec. 11. Civii Registry Books. - The Civil Registrar shall keep, update as
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mandated by law, and preserve the following books in their offices:
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a) Register of births - the records of birth In the civii registiy;
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b) Register of births of person without known parents- the records of
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abandoned in the civil register;
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c) Register of Deaths - the record of death of a deceased in the civii register
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d) Register of Marriages - the records of solemnized marriage in the civil
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register;
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e) Register of Court Decrees or Orders - the records of court decree or order
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concerning the status of a person In the civil register;
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f) Register of Legal Instruments - the records of legal instruments executed
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affecting the vital events of a person in the civil register;
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g) Register of Applications for Marriage License - the records of application of
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marriage license in the civil register;
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h) Register of Conversion to Islam - the records of conversion to Islam religion
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of a person in the civil register;
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i) Register of Muslim Filipino Marriages - the records of marriage of a Muslim
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Filipino in the civil register;
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j) Register of Muslim Filipino Divorces - the records of divorce of a Muslim
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Filipino In the civil register;
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k) Register of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICC/IPs)
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Marriage Dissolutions - the records of ICCs/IPs dissolution of marriage In the
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civil register; and Register of ICCs/IPs Revocation of Marriage Dissolutions - the
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records of ICCs/IPs revocation of marriage dissolutions.
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Sec. 12. Registrable Acts and Events. - The following are the Registrable Acts
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and Events:
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1. Birth;
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2. Death;
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3. Application for Marriage License;
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4. Marriage;
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5. Court Orders or Decrees; and
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6. Legal Instruments;
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The Registrable Orders or Decrees of Courts and other competent authorities are the
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following:
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1. Adoption;
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2. Rescission of Adoption;
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3. Annulment of Marriage;
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4. Declaration of Nullity of Marriage;
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5. Declaration of Presumptive Death;
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6. Compulsory Recognition of Illegitimate Child;
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7. Voluntary Recognition of Minor Illegitimate Child;
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8. Appointment of Guardian;
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9. Termination of Guardianship;
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10. Judicial Determination of Filiation;
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11. Naturalization-All forms of naturalization;
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12. Cancellation of Naturalization;
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13. Judicial Determination of the Fact of Reappearance, If Disputed;
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14. Separation of Property;
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15. Revival of Former Property Regime;
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16. Foreign Court Orders Decided Abroad; and
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17. Other orders/decrees that pertain to the civil status and vital statistics of a
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person.
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The civil registrar shall properly enter the registrable events and court orders
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or decrees.
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Sec. 13. Free Registration of Vitai Civii Registry Events. - The registration of
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births, deaths and marriage are hereby declared a national policy. Therefore, no fees
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shall be imposed and collected in the registration of these events, whether or not
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these are registered on time. All supporting documents as prerequisite to birth
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registration shall also be free.
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The first copies of civil registration certificates shall be free. For issuance of
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succeeding copies of civil registry documents, a minimal fee prescribed by the CRG
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may be collected.
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For registration of registrable judicial and administrative issuances or orders,
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and legal instruments, a standard fee shall be collected.
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Sec. 14. Registration and Certification of Birth. - The declaration of the
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physician, midwife, nurse, birth attendant, finder or in default thereof, the declaration
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of either or both parents or any person who has knowledge of the facts of birth of the
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newborn child shall be sufficient for the registration of birth in the civil register.
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The duly accomplished Certificate of Live Birth containing the above declaration
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shall be submitted for registration to the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the birth
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occurred within thirty (30) calendar days from date of birth by the aforementioned
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persons, declaring the following when available:
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a.) Full name of the child;
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b.) Sex;
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c.) Date of birth;
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d.) Place of birth or where found;
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e.) Name of mother;
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f.) Citizenship of the mother;
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g.) Name of father;
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h.) Citizenship of the father;
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i.) Date and place of marriage of parents; and
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j.) Such other data as may be identified in the implementing rules and
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regulations of this Act.
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Birth and other civil registry records of persons when any or some of the
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following information is absent/missing: the usual middle initial or middle name,
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citizenship if stateless, names of parents If unknown, date of marriage if inapplicable,
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or when an Individual has only one birth name or any analogous circumstances, shall
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have equal acceptability and respect before all government, public, private,
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commercial, and business transactions where these documents are presented. All
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regulatory bodies such as, but not limited to the Securities and Exchange Commission,
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Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, shall adhere to this law and adopt the necessary rules
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and regulations to implement this act.
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The fetus is considered born if it is alive at the time, it is completely delivered
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from the mother's womb shall be considered as live birth and shall be registered in
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the Register of Births.
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The fetus is not deemed born if it dies within twenty-four (24) hours after its
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delivery from the mother's womb. But for statistical purposes, a COLB shall be
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prepared in duplicate, where in a copy shall be forwarded to the Office of the Civil
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Registrar-General 34 and the other for Civil Registrar's file.
28 
All cases of birth on board a vessel or airplane en route to the Philippines shall
29 
be recorded in the civil register of the city or municipality where the mother habitually
30 
resides if either of the parent is a citizen of the Philippines or both are. When the
31 
parents are both foreigners but not residents of the Philippines, the birth may be
32 
recorded in any civil registry office in the Philippines, if they so desire.
13


1 
Abandoned children or foundlings whose parents, guardians or relatives are
2 
unknown, or children committed to an orphanage or a child-caring institution with
3 
unknown facts of birth and parentage, shall be registered by the finder or charitable
4 
institution concerned within thirty (30) days from the date of finding or commitment
5 
of the child with the C/MCR of the place where such person was born. The CRG shall
6 
issue a COLB to these children.
7 
All LCR/PSAs in partnership with LGUs shall provide mobile birth registration
8 
services especially in all Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) under
9 
their jurisdiction.
10 
Sec. 15. Delayed Registration of Birth. - A person who has not been registered
11 
with the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE at the place of birth or where found shall apply
12 
for delayed registration within the prescribed period of thirty (30) calendar days upon
13 
discovering that no entry of birth has been recorded in the Register of Births.
14 
For delayed registration, resort to out-of-town registration of birth may be
15 
allowed, where the place of application for registration is other than the place of birth
16 
of the person seeking to be registered. The LCR/PSA and PSA shall Issue a COLB free
17 
of charge regardless of delay. A person who has not been registered before the office
18 
of the C/MCR and PSA where he or she was born within the prescribed period of thirty
19 
(30) calendar days shall apply on the basis of his or her nearest kin. The Informant
20 
and affiant must show authentic proof of the identity of the person to be registered,
21 
the facts of his birth, his parentage and other relevant data.
22 
In the implementation of this act, LCR/PSA should conduct regular review to
23 
assess the accessibility of registration and design and implement programmatic
24 
interventions to address gaps in CRVS, with PSA as the central office for data
25 
management and standards.
26 
The record of a person's birth shall be kept strictly confidential, and any
27 
treatment thereof shall be fully compliant with the Data Privacy Act.
28 
Sec. 16. Mandatory Continuing Education and Training Program. - To ensure
29 
that the efficient and effective delivery of civil registration services and meet the
30 
demand for quality civil registrars who shall perform civil registration functions, the
31 
Civil Register-General together with the LGU, shall conduct continuing education and
32 
training program for Civil Registrars, Consui Generals, District Recorders, and Circuit
14


1 
Registrars and their staff, in collaboration with relevant partners in government,
2 
academe, industry, and nongovernmental organizations. Such training programs shall
3 
be initiated, conducted based on Training Needs Analysis, and evaluated regularly
4 
throughout the year to ensure constant upgrading of skills of the Civil Registrars,
5 
Consul Generals, District Recorders, and Circuit Registrars, and their staff.
6 
Sec. 17. Free Delayed Registration and Certification of Birth. - Local
7 
government units are mandated to implement a free delayed registration program for
8 
persons whose births have not been registered and certified due to such factors as
9 
poverty, distance, or lack of literacy. The Sangguniang Barangay shall assist in the
10 
implementation of the program through the Barangay Civil Registration System.
11 
The OCRG, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the
12 
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) shall jointly prepare a Free
13 
Delayed Registration Program for Indigenous Peoples (FDRIP) which shall be
14 
implemented by the local government units and the NCIP regional or local offices in
15 
the localities concerned.
16 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the OCRG shall issue
17 
implementing rules and regulations for the free delayed registration and certification
18 
of birth covering the foregoing.
19 
Sec. 18. Strict Confidentiality of Birth Records. - The record of a person's birth
20 
shall be kept confidential and no Information relating thereto shall be issued, in
21 
accordance to the Data Privacy Act except upon request of the following:
22 
a) The concerned person herself/himself, or any person authorized by him;
23 
b) Spouse;
24 
c) Any or both the parents, direct descendants, or the guardian or Institution
25 
legally in-charge in case of a minor;
26 
d) The Court or appropriate public official whenever absolutely necessary in
27 
administrative, judicial, or other official proceedings to determine the identity
28 
of the child's parents or other circumstances surrounding the birth;
29 
e) The nearest kin in case of a person's death;
30 
f) In accordance to section 12 of the Data Privacy Act of 2012, personal
31 
information shall be released meeting the following conditions (with the consent
32 
of the concerned person):
15


1 
(i) Necessary for compliance with a legal obligation;
2 
(ii) The personal information is necessary in fulfillment of a contract;
3 
(iii) Necessary to protect vitally important interests of the data subjects,
4 
including life and death;
5 
(iv) Necessary in order to respond to national emergency, to comply with
6 
public order and safety; and
7 
(v) According to the purposes of legitimate interests by any third
8 
party/ies, unless these interests are overridden by fundamental rights
9 
and freedoms of the person invoived.
10 
Sec. 19. Registration and Certification of Death. - No human body shall be
11 
buried or cremated unless the proper death certificate has been presented and
12 
recorded in the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE/PSA.
13 
The physician who attended the deceased, or in his default, the health officer
14 
concerned, any member of the family of the deceased or any person having knowledge
15 
of the death shall immediately report the same to the local health authorities who shall
16 
issue a death certificate and shall order the same to be recorded before the CIVIL
17 
REGISTRAR'S OFFICE/PSA at the place of death.
18 
The death certificate which shall be Issued by the attending physician of the
19 
deceased or, in his default, by the authorized health officer, shall indicate the following
20 
data, which shall be furnished by the person reporting the death to the civil registrar:
21 
a) Full name of the deceased;
22 
b) Sex;
23 
c) Age;
24 
d) Civil status;
25 
e) Nationality;
26 
F) Date of birth;
27 
G) Place of birth;
28 
h) Date of death;
29 
i) Place of death;
30 
j) Full names of the deceased's parents;
31 
k) Cause of death; and
32 
1) Such other relevant data that may be required.
16


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The surname to be entered in the registry of death and the Death Certificate 
shall be the surname used prior to his/her death. In case the deceased is a legally 
married woman. Informants shall register the death using the surname she chose as 
a legally married person.
The registration of death shall be made within thirty (30) calendar days from 
the time and date of death before the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE at the place of 
death, or the Philippine Consulate Office in the foreign country where the death 
happened.
In the absence of the city or municipal health officer or his authorized 
representative in the place of registration, or when it Is a non-working day and the 
health officer or his authorized representative is not expected to be in the office, the 
death shall be reported by the nearest kin of the deceased or by any person having 
knowledge of the death within forty-eight (48) hours after its occurrence, to the mayor 
or to the vice mayor or any member of the Sangguniang Bayan or to the municipal 
secretary, who shall issue and sign the medical certification of the Certificate of Death 
for burial, cremation, and registration purposes.
When the death is subjected to a medico-legal examination, or the cause of 
death is under investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or other 
concerned government office and the body of the deceased is subjected to autopsy 
or examination of the medico-legal officers and no record of death has been 
registered, the head of the NBI or other investigative agency or the duly authorized 
representative shall cause the registration of such death through the City or Municipal 
Health Officer at the place of death.
The medico-legal officer shall accomplish and sign the medical certification 
portion of the certificate of death, subject to the review of the City or Municipal Health 
Officer.
Sec. 20. Delayed Registration of Death. - A deceased person's facts of death 
that have not been registered within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of death 
shall be allowed delayed registration before the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE at the 
place of death.
In any case, out-of-town registration of death may be allowed.
17


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Sec. 21. Registration of the Appiication for Marriage License. - An application 
for marriage license shall be filed by the contracting parties before the CR where one 
of the parties resides. The CR shall enter all applications in the Register of Applications 
for Marriage License strictly in the order of receipt of applications. The CR shall record 
in said register the names of the applicants, the date on which the marriage license 
was issued, and such other data as may be necessary.
No application shall be received by the CR unless supporting documents are 
attached thereto and no application shall be posted unless it is received by the CR. 
Registration of the application shall only take place after the completion of the posting 
period.
All applications for marriage license shall be governed by the pertinent 
provisions of EO. No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines.
Sec. 22. Registration of Marriage. - All marriages shall be registered by the 
solemnizing officer before the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE of the place where they 
were solemnized.
a) In case of marriages solemnized while in transit:
i. En route to, or within the Philippines, the marriage shall be registered 
at the place of residence of either party; or
ii. Leaving the Philippines, the marriage shall be registered at the 
consulate of the Philippines in the place of destination of the parties, or 
in the absence thereof, to the nearest Philippine consulate from the place 
of destination.
b) In cases of registration of traditional marriages and dissolution of marriages 
among IPs.
The report of marriage among and between IPs solemnized in accordance with 
customary laws, rites, traditions and practices by the person duly authorized to 
perform the ritual or ceremony and by the parties to the marriage shall be 
conclusive upon the LCR/PSA without need for further proof. For this purpose, 
the NCIP shall submit to the PSA a list of IPs recognized by each indigenous 
community to solemnize marriage according to Its customary laws or practices. 
The PSA shall issue a Certificate of Registration of Authority to Solemnize 
Marriage (CRASM) to such IPs for free.
18


1 
In the case of indigenous communities whose traditional marriage ceremony
2 
does not require the presence of a solemnizing officer, as determined by the
3 
NCIP, the report by the contracting parties shall be conclusive upon the LC
4 
R/PSA without the need for further proof except personal confirmation, orally
5 
or in writing, by any of the parents or by a tribal leader or elder of the
6 
indigenous community to which any of the spouses belong. For this purpose,
7 
the NCIP shall furnish the PSA and the LCR/PSAs with a list of indigenous
8 
communities falling under this paragraph: Provided, That pending the
9 
submission of such list, the oral or written confirmation of the tribal leader or
10 
elder shall be conclusive upon the LCR/PSA.
11 
The dissolution of marriage of IPs following customary indigenous laws and
12 
practices shall be directly recorded with the LCR/PSA without need of court
13 
intervention: Provided, That such facts and information shall be confirmed
14 
orally or in writing by a tribal leader or elder of the indigenous community to
15 
which any of the spouses belongs.
16 
All marriages shall be registered within thirty (30) days from the date of the
17 
marriage. Marriages registered after the stipulated period shall be considered
18 
late registration and an administrative fee shaii be Imposed on the solemnizing
19 
officer.
20 
In no case shall double or multiple registration of marriages be allowed, except
21 
for cases provided by law.
22 
Sec. 23. Multiple Registration. - In cases of multiple registrations of birth,
23 
marriage, and death, the first duly registered document shall prevail, unless the Court
24 
orders otherwise.
25 
For multiple marriages by and between the same parties, the first marriage
26 
shall prevail, and not the first registered marriage of such parties.
27 
Sec. 24. Registration of Solemnizing Officers. - All solemnizing officers shall be
28 
registered with the Office of the CRG, except those who are not required to be so
29 
registered as provided for by law or existing rules.
30 
The Mayor, with the assistance of the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, shall
31 
determine documents pertaining to the existence of religious sects.
19


1 
Sec. 25. Registration of Court Orders. - In case of court issuance or order
2 
concerning the status of a person, the Clerk of Court shall advise the successful
3 
petitioner to register such document before the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE which has
4 
jurisdiction on the issuing court. In cases of legal separation, absolute nullity of void
5 
marriages and annulment of voidable marriages, the prevailing party shall cause the
6 
registration of the decree in the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the marriage was
7 
registered, the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the family court is situated, and in
8 
the PSA. Such party shall report to the Court compliance with this requirement within
9 
thirty (30) days from receipt of the copy of the decree.
10 
In case a person other than the petitioner shall apply to register a court order
11 
before the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE, the LCR has the responsibility to verify the
12 
veracity of the court issuance or order, otherwise, registration thereof shall be refused,
13 
The CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the event was registered shall forward a
14 
certified true copy of the order to the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the vital
15 
event affected was originally registered.
16 
The CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the vital event was originally registered
17 
shall make proper annotations in the document and in the applicable registry book.
18 
The CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE which has jurisdiction over the original registry shall
19 
send a certified true copy of the annotated document and the registered court order
20 
to the CRG.
21 
Each corrected document shall be reported to the Office of the CRG during the
22 
usual reporting month.
23 
All court order shall be registered within thirty (30) days after its finality,
24 
otherwise it shall be considered as delayed registration.
25 
All court orders shall be effected through annotations in the civil registry
26 
document except in an adoption case when the child shall be entitled to the issuance
27 
of an amended COLB
28 
Sec. 26. Registration of a Chiid Born Abroad to at Least One Fiiipino Parent-
29 
The parents shall cause the registration of the birth of their child to the Philippine
30 
Consulate which in turn shall issue a Report of Birth within thirty (30) calendar days
31 
from date of birth of a Filipino child. Declaring the following when available:
32 
a) Full name of the child;
20


1 
b) Sex;
2 
c) Date of birth;
3 
d) Place of birth or where found;
4 
e) Name of mother;
5 
f) Citizenship of the mother;
6 
g) Name of father;
7 
h.) Citizenship of the father;
8 
i.) Date and place of marriage of parents; and
9 
j.) Such other data as may be required in the implementing rules and
10 
regulations of this Act.
11 
Sec. 27. Registration of Persons without Known Parents. — All without known
12 
parents, guardians or relatives, or a person committed in an orphanage or charitable
13 
Institution with unknown facts of birth and parentage, shall be reported by the finder
14 
to the Barangay Chairperson or any member of the Barangay Council for the Protection
15 
of Children (BCPC) of the place where the person was found, or to the Philippine
16 
National Police (PNP) Women and Children's Protection Desk (WCPD), whichever is
17 
nearer or convenient to the finder, stating the facts and circumstances surrounding
18 
the finding of the person. When the report is duly noted, the finder shall bring the
19 
child to the nearest Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in
20 
the region, for proper screening, assessment, and evaluation by an authorized social
21 
worker within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of finding or commitment of
22 
the child. The finder shall execute a sworn statement before the Barangay Captain
23 
stating the facts and circumstances surrounding the finding of the person.
24 
In case of foundlings found in Philippine Consulates, embassies and territories,
25 
the relevant Philippine Consulate shall abide by the eventual State policy (by virtue of
26 
this Act) on foundling.
27 
The finder or charitable Institution concerned shall cause the registration before
28 
the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where such person was found within thirty (30)
29 
calendar days from the date of entrustment to the institution.
30 
Any report made after the thirty-day period shall be considered late registration,
31 
and the concerned party shall be required to state in a sworn statement the
32 
circumstances that caused the late reporting to the civil registrar.
21


1 
Should the foundling become adopted, the Local Civil Registrar shall stamp the
2 
simulated birth record "cancelled" with an annotation of the issuance of a new rectified
3 
certificate of birth in its place. The rectified birth certificate bearing the names of the
4 
biological parents of the child or the foundling certificate shall then likewise be
5 
stamped "cancelled" with the annotation of the issuance of a new birth record in its
6 
place, and shall be sealed In the civil registry records. Thereafter, the Local Civil
7 
Registrar shall record, register, and issue a new certificate of birth which shall not bear
8 
any notation that it is a new or amended Issue, as stated In RA 11222, Sec. 12.
9 
Sec. 28. Registration of Adoption. - The decree of adoption shall be recorded
10 
in the civil register within thirty (30) days after the date of issue of the final judgment
11 
of the court.
12 
After registration of the decree of adoption, the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE
13 
where the birth of the adopted was registered shall immediately issue an amended
14 
COLB.
15 
Such COLB of an adopted child shall not bear any mark or annotation or any
16 
indication of the facts of adoption. It shall have the same entries as those appearing
17 
in the original records of birth, except for the following items of information:
18 
a) Name of the adopted - The first name of the adopted child shall be the same
19 
as in the original COLB unless the order of adoption carried an order changing
20 
it to another name. The middle name of the adopted child shall be the same as
21 
the middle name of the adopter, except when the husband and the wife jointly
22 
adopted the child, in which case, the middle name of the adopted shall be the
23 
surname of the adopting mother. The surname of the adopted child shall be
24 
that of the adopter. If the husband and wife jointiy adopt the child, the adopted
25 
child shall use the surname of the adopting father.
26 
b) Names of parents - The names of the natural parents of the adopted child
27 
shall be substituted by the names of the adopting parents, to be indicated in
28 
the appropriate spaces In the COLB as the father or mother, as the case maybe;
29 
and
30 
c) Other information - Other information about the adopting parents such as
31 
citizenship and religion shall be indicated in the appropriate spaces of the
32 
amended certificate of live birth. The birth order of the adopted and other
22


1 
information about the adopted shall follow the information given by the
2 
adopting parents, unless the court order states otherwise. In cases where
3 
legally married husband and wife jointly adopt the child, the date and place of
4 
marriage of the adopting parents shall be entered in the appropriate spaces of
5 
the amended certificate of live birth of the adopted child.
6 
In all cases of adoption, no amendment or changes shall be effected in the civil
7 
registry books where the original birth records were duly registered, except for
8 
the marginal annotation by virtue of the adoption decree.
9 
In case the adopted child has no known parents, the basis for the issuance of
10 
the amended COLB shall be the court order.
11 
In cases of the adopted child via administrative adoption on cases of the
12 
rectification of simulated birth, pursuant to Article V of the Simulated Birth
13 
Rectification Act:
14 
a) 
On Civil Registry Records for Rectified Simulated Birth, Article V, Sec 21,
15 
RA 11222. Upon receipt, the Local Civil Registrar shall stamp the
16 
simulated birth record, "cancelled", with annotations of the issuance of
17 
the rectified birth record. These applies to birth certificates bearing the
18 
name of the biological parents of the child, foundling certificate and any
19 
COLB of the child prior the simulated birth.
20 
b) 
On Issuance of New Birth Certificate for Rectified Simulated Birth, Article
21 
V, Sec 22, RA 11222. New Certificate of Live Birth shall be issued through
22 
the Local Civil Registrar for purposes of record, and registration, without
23 
bearing any notation that it is new or amended. The new COLB, shall
24 
indicate the following information: Place of Registration, Birth Order,
25 
Name of Adoptive Parent/s, age. Date and Place of marriage (when
26 
applicable). Informant and Person who prepared the new COLB. The
27 
LCR shall immediately transmit said COLB to the PSA to be included in
28 
the registry of adoptions, inciuding the number of cancelled simulated
29 
birth registrations.
30 
Sec. 29. Registration of Presumptive Death. - A judiciai order or decree
31 
declaring a person presumably dead for purposes of remarriage shall be registered in
32 
the office of the locai civii registrar of the piace where the marriage was solemnized.
23


1 
It shall be annotated and recorded. The registration shall be annotated in the marriage
2 
register as well as in the marriage certificate.
3 
Sec. 30. Registration of Foreign Court Orders Decided Abroad. - All foreign
4 
court orders involving status of persons residing In the Philippines shall be registered
5 
before the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where the affected document is registered.
6 
These foreign court orders, to be legal and binding in Philippine jurisdiction, must first
7 
be recognized by the appropriate embassy of such country in here in the Philippines
8 
or Regional Trial Court or which has the lawful jurisdiction over such case.
9 
The Supreme Court Order (Republic vs. Manalo (G. R. 221029, April 24 2018)
10 
on recognizing Foreign Divorce Obtained by a Filipino, consistent to Article 26(2) of
11 
the Family Code, granting the Filipino spouse the right to remarry shall be upheld by
12 
this policy.
13 
Sec. 31. Registration of Legai Instruments. - As a general rule, all legal
14 
instruments shall be registered in the civil registry of the place where they were
15 
executed except for the following:
16 
a) Affidavit of Reappearance - where the parties to the subsequent marriage
17 
are residing;
18 
b) Marriage Settlement - where the marriage is recorded;
19 
c) Admission of Paternity, Acknowledgment, Legitimation, Voluntary
20 
Emancipation of Minor, Artificial Insemination - where the birth of child was
21 
recorded.
22 
Sec. 32. Registration of Affidavit of Reappearance. - A sworn statement of the
23 
facts and circumstances of reappearance of the absentee spouse shall be recorded in
24 
the civil registry office where subsequent marriage of the present spouse was
25 
recorded, at the instance of any interested person, with due notice to the spouses of
26 
the subsequent marriage and without prejudice to the fact of reappearance being
27 
judicially determined in cases where such a fact is disputed.
28 
Sec. 33. Registration of Affidavit of Acknowiedgment or Affidavit of Admission
29 
of Paternity. - It shall be the duty of parents or parent who executed the affidavit of
30 
acknowledgment to send the original copy to the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE where
31 
the entries on the birth of the child were recorded for registration in the Register of
32 
Legal Instruments and for proper annotation In the Register of Births.
24


1 
Sec. 34. Registration of Repatriation. - The Instrument of repatriation and the
2 
oath of allegiance to the Constitution and the Government of the Philippines, shall be
3 
filed in the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE of the place where the instrument was
4 
executed: Provided, That if the Philippine citizenship is reacquired by naturalization,
5 
the order of the court or any mandated (omnibus) authority granting citizenship shall
6 
be recorded in the Register of Court Order.
7 
Sec. 35. Civii Registry Documents as Pubiic Documents. - The registry books
8 
making up the civii register, the office files in hard copies and its corresponding digital
9 
files of the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICES, certifications or certified copies from these
10 
files and all other documents relating thereto shall be considered public documents
11 
and shall be prima facie evidence of the truth of the facts therein contained. These
12 
public documents, except those documents which are to be kept strictly confidential
13 
as provided for under this act and other applicable laws shall be opened to the public
14 
during office hours and shall be kept in a secured place which shall be furnished to
15 
civil registrar at the expenses of the funds of the civil registrar's office, Philippine
16 
consulate office, or Shari'a court concerned.
17 
The civil registrar shall not, under any circumstances, permit any document
18 
entrusted to his care to be removed from his office, except upon lawful order of the
19 
court, in which case the proper receipt shali be secured.
20 
Sec. 36. Digitai/Eiectronic Reporting of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. - There
21 
shall be a compulsory reporting of all occurrences of Births, Deaths, and Marriages
22 
from all Barangays of the Philippines. As Barangay Registration Agents, all Barangay
23 
Secretaries or their authorized representatives are hereby mandated to report these
24 
events using appropriate and duly-inspected secure eiectronic devices to the LCR/PSA
25 
and other government agencies mandated by iaw to monitor the status of registration
26 
of vital civil registry events and shall assist the subsequent registration thereof.
27 
Continuing skills training relevant to Digital/Electronic Reporting of Births, Death and
28 
Marriages of Barangay Registration Agents shall be provided by the PSA, LGU, PACR
29 
and other accredited government and private institutions and organizations. This
30 
training shall equip Barangay Registration Agents with the knowledge and skills
31 
needed to properly implement digital/electronic civil registration.
25


1 
Sec. 37. Development of National Civil Registry Database (NCRD) Software. -
2 
The National Government thru the National Computer Center in close coordination
3 
with the PSA, the PACR, and the DILG shall develop official software responsive to the
4 
NCRD implementation. Participation and assistance of international and local private
5 
organizations having parallel objectives on the full development of digital civil
6 
registration may be sought in the development of this software. Among other features,
7 
this software shall Include the highest degree of data security to ensure the integrity
8 
of its database.
9 
Sec. 38. Digitization of all Civil Registry Files. - All registered documents in the
10 
LCR/PSA shall be digitized. In addition to the usual reports and forwarding of the
11 
printed hard copy files, digitized files shall also be submitted to the PSA as back up
12 
files of the National Civil Registry Database (NCRD), for digital archiving purposes.
13 
Sec. 39. False Statements. - Any person who shall knowingly make false
14 
statements in the furnished forms and present the same for entry in the civil registers
15 
shall be penalized in accordance with law unless it was done for the best interest of
16 
the child.
17 
False statements on the rectification of simulated birth of the child, granted
18 
that simulation was made at the best interest of the child, shall be granted amnesty
19 
pursuant to the Simulated Birth Rectification Act, RA 11222.
20 
Sec. 40. Digitization of Linkages and Interconnection of AH Participating
21 
LCR/PSA. - All capable LCR/PSA shall be interconnected to facilitate retrieval, online
22 
certifications, and for local government revenue generation using LGU-linked MCRD
23 
digital files. Participating LCR/PSA are hereby authorized to issue certifications from
24 
NCRD for and in behalf of other LCR/PSA subject to pertinent laws, rules or regulations
25 
on the confidentiality of birth records.
26 
Sec. 41. Pena!Provisions. - Persons in authority who knowingly fall to perform
27 
their duties in relation to this Act shall be held administratively liable in accordance to
28 
law.
29 
Any solemnizing officer without being authorized by the Civil Registrar General
30 
or who, upon solemnizing marriage, refuses to exhibit his authority to solemnize
31 
marriage when called upon to do so by the parties or parents, grandparents, guardians
32 
or persons having charge of the parties; or any bishop or officer, priest, minister, or
26


1 
Imam, of any church, religion or sect, the regulations and practices whereof require
2 
bans or publication previous to the solemnization of marriage that is subsequently
3 
declared illegal, or any solemnizing officer in violation of this Act, shall be punished
4 
with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not to exceed three (3) years,
5 
a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) but not more than One
6 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00), or both, and the revocation of the
7 
authority to solemnize marriage, upon the discretion of the Court.
8 
The attending physician, midwife, nurse, birth attendant, hospital administrator
9 
in charged to cause the registration of live births but knowingly fails or withholds the
10 
delivery of copies of the certificate/s of live birth to the city or municipal civil registrar
11 
for registration, or any person who caused the failure of delivery, shall be penalized
12 
by Imprisonment of not more than six (6) months and a fine of not less than Fifty
13 
Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00), or both, upon the discretion of the Court.
14 
Sec. 42. Withholding of documents due to Non-payment of hospital fees. - In
15 
no case shall failure to settle hospital bills. In full or in part, be a ground for non-
16 
delivery or withholding of the certificate of live birth or certificate of death or
17 
documents required In the Issuance of the said certificates.
18 
Sec. 43. Use of Fees and Income Collected. - All fees that are remitted to the
19 
PSA by the National Treasury and all income that the PSA is allowed to retain under
20 
law shall, any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, be used primarily for
21 
operating expenses Including capital outlay, upgrading of its current facilities,
22 
acquisition of office and space, and establishment of satellite offices in the provinces,
23 
and other activities or services the PSA in the performance of Its mandate needs.
24 
Sec. 44. Transitory Provisions. - The PSA shall carry out the reorganization of
25 
the civil registrars in such a manner that personnel of such office absorbed by the PSA
26 
shall continue to perform their respective duties and responsibilities In a holdover
27 
capacity so as not to unduly delay the production of statistics from ongoing censuses,
28 
surveys, and processing of administrative record.
29 
Sec. 45. Appropriations. - There shall be an initial appropriation of One
30 
Hundred Fifty Million Pesos (Php 150,000,000.00) in the General Appropriations Act,
31 
which will be included in the PSA's budget for the initial development of software and
32 
the digitization of the CIVIL REGISTRAR'S OFFICE files.
27


1 
The Local Government Units shall allocate a portion of its Internal Revenue
2 
Allocation (IRA) in order to assist the City/Municipal Civil Registry and the staffing of
3 
the Barangay Civil Registration System, in particular the Barangay Civil Registration
4 
Assistant (BRCA).
5 
Sec. 46. Mandatory Review. - This Act shali undergo a mandatory review on
6 
its provisions every five (5) years to make the law more responsive to the needs of
7 
the times. The review shali be made by Congress, which shall conduct public hearings
8 
and record relevant testimonies of functionaries in the civii registration system, which
9 
shali be the basis of any amendment or modification of this Act.
10 
Sec. 47. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within sixty (60) days
11 
from the effectivity of this Act, the PSA, shall promulgate the IRR for the effective
12 
implementation of this Act. The PSA may consuit with the Department of Foreign
13 
Affairs, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice (DOJ),
14 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Commission of
15 
Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), the Office of the Supreme Court Administrator, the University
16 
of the Philippines Law Center, a national professional organization of local civil
17 
registrars duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National
18 
Privacy Commission, the Department of Heaith, the Office of Solicitor General, the
19 
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Child Rights Network (CRN),
20 
the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Bureau of Immigration (BIR), the Council
21 
for the Welfare of Children (CWC), the National Council of Disability Affairs (NCDA),
22 
the Commission on Filipinos Overseas(CFO), the Department of Education (DepEd),the
23 
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), related child caring agencies,
24 
international agencies, civil society organizations, related ministries of the Bangsamoro
25 
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and such other agencies In the
26 
formulation of the IRR. Other relevant stakeholders may also be consulted in the
27 
crafting of the IRR.
28 
Sec. 48. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act which shall
29 
be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof which are
30 
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
31 
Sec. 49. Repealing Clause. - Act No. 3753 or the Law on Registry of Civil Status
32 
Is repealed. Sec. 453, 454, and 479 of the RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of
28


1 
1991 are also hereby repealed. All other laws, rules, regulations, orders, memoranda
2 
or circulars inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.
3 
Sec. SO. Retroactivity. — This Act shali have retroactive effect insofar as it
4 
does not prejudice or impair vested or acquired rights.
5 
Sec. 51. Effectivity. - This Act shaii take effect fifteen (15) days after its
6 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspapers of general circulation.
7 
Sec. 52. Construction. -In the interpretation of this iaw, the best interest of
8 
the child shall prevail.
Approved,
29