Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act

SPENDED Office of tire TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 26 FEB 18 P3 57 SENATE RECEIVED BY 1868 S. No. Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND RESPONSIVE CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 3753 OR THE PHILIPPINE CIVIL REGISTRY ACT OF 1930 AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF EXPLANATORY NOTE Civil registration establishes legal identity and provides the primary documentary basis for the recognition of rights, civil status, and obligations under the law. It also anchors the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system, which policy generates essential demographic data for public planning, budgeting, and formulation. Despite existing laws, significant gaps persist in the country's civil registration system. An estimated 3.7 million Filipinos remain without registered births. The absence of birth registration carries serious and long-term consequences, including restricted access to education, healthcare, formal employment, financial inclusion, and social protection programs. Without proof of identity, individuals are effectively excluded from rights and services guaranteed by law. At the same time, incomplete registration compromises the reliability of demographic data essential to fiscal allocation and development planning. Concerns have also emerged about the integrity of civil registry records, such as irregular or delayed registrations, duplicate entries, and falsified documents. These records are foundational evidence in matters involving citizenship, property rights, succession, suffrage, public office, financial transactions, and judicial proceedings. Weak registration controls and verification mechanisms expose the State to significant legal, fiscal, and security risks. Act No. 3753, enacted in 1930, remains the primary law governing civil registration in the Philippines, long before the advent of digital systems and contemporary standards of data governance. As a result, the framework remains fragmented, limits secure, interoperable, and timely registration, and does not

adequately support an integrated CRVS system. These structural constraints warrant comprehensive modernization. A reliable and secure CRVS framework strengthens fiscal management, improves the targeting of social programs, supports demographic forecasting and disaster preparedness, and reinforces public confidence in government records. This measure seeks to modernize and consolidate the country's civil registration framework through an updated and unified legal regime that institutionalizes a comprehensive, secure, and responsive Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System that advances both universal access and documentary integrity. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN Senator

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) Ellie of the 2 CHES REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 26 FEB 18 P3:57 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1868 Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND RESPONSIVE CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 3753 OR THE PHILIPPINE CIVIL REGISTRY ACT OF 1930 AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF 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 "Philippine Civil

2 Registration and Vital Statistics Act"

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - it is hereby declared the policy of the State to

establish and maintain an efficient, secure, and inclusive Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system that ensures the universal, timely, and accurate registration 6 of all vital events. The State recognizes civil registration as the foundation of legal identity and a prerequisite to the full recognition and protection of rights under the law. The registration of all births, deaths, and marriages, without discrimination, is hereby declared a national priority. To this end, the State shall modernize and standardize civil registration processes, strengthen the integrity and security of civil registry records, and promote interoperability and sound data governance. It shall guarantee accessible and affordable registration services, particularly for children and vulnerable sectors, and

1 ensure the generation of reliable vital statistics to support evidence-based 2 policymaking, fiscal planning, public health management, and national development. The enactment of this law reaffirms the State's commitment to international 4 standards recognizing the right of every person to legal identity and equal protection 5 before the law, including: (a) The universal human right to be recognized as a person before the law, as provided under Article 6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); (b) The right of the child to nationality and registration after birth, as provided under Article 7 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC); (c) The right to identity, as provided under Article 8 of the UNCRC; (d) The right to be protected from discrimination based on race, sex, color, language, religion, national or social origin, as provided under Article 24 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); (e) The right to nationality of persons with disabilities, as provided under Article 18 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); (f) The right of adolescents to birth registration, as provided under General Comment No. 20, Article 8 of the UNCRC; (g) The right of children in street situations to be proactively supported to obtain legal identity documents and the right of all children at all ages to free, accessible, simple, and expeditious birth registration, as provided under General Comment No. 21, Article 15 of the UNCRC; and (h) The right of all Filipino migrant workers to be recognized as a person of the law, as provided under Article 24 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICMW).

SEC. 3. Coverage. - This law shall embrace all acts, vital events, judicial

decrees and administrative issuances affecting the civil status of persons in the Philippines and of all Filipino citizens abroad.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms are

defined as follows:

(a) Abandoned child refers to a child who has no proper parental care or guardianship, a foundling, or one who has been deserted by one's parents for a period of at least three (3) continuous months and has been declared as such by the National Authority for Child Care (NACC). (b) Abandoned Filipino child in a foreign country refers to an unregistered or undocumented child found outside the Philippine territory, with known or unknown facts of birth, separated from or deserted by the biological Filipino parent guardian, or custodian for a period of at least three (3) continuous months and committed to a foreign orphanage or charitable institution or in a temporary informal care, and has been declared as such by the National Authority for Child Care, upon recommendation of the office of the Social Welfare Attache of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, or the Department of Foreign Affairs (c) Adoption refers to the socio-legal process of providing a permanent family to a child whose parents had voluntarily or involuntarily given up their parental rights, permanently transferring all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, making the child a legitimate child of the adoptive parents; (d) Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS) refers to a scheme to facilitate extensive civil registration at the barangay level involving all barangay officials assisting the Local Civil Registrars (LCRs) in civil registration work, as provided in Section 394 (d) Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of the Philippines; (e) Barangay Secretary refers to the person appointed by the Punong Barangay pursuant to Section 394, Book III, Title I, Chapter V of Republic Act No. 7160; (f) Birth Attendant refers to attending Physician at birth or other health professional such as, midwives, and nurses who have the skills necessary to manage normal deliveries and diagnose, manage, or refer obstetric complications; (g) Cause of death refers to diseases, morbid conditions, or injuries which either resulted in or contributed to the death, and the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced such injuries for purposes of registration, aligned with International Classification Standards;

(h) Child refers to any person below eighteen (18) years of age or eighteen (18) years and above who is unable to fully take care of himself/herself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition; (i) Children in Need of Special Protection (CNSP) refer to all Filipino children who are vulnerable to or are victims of abuse, neglect, exploitation, cruelty, discrimination, and nature-induced or human-induced violence, which include the following: i) Abandoned, abused, neglected, and exploited or without primary caregiver; ii) Those with mental, physical, learning and other disabilities; iii) Victims of prostitution and pedophilia and other sexual violence; iv) Those engaged in worst forms of labor; v) Those at risk or in conflict with the law; vi) Those affected by the use of illegal substance; vii) Those living in street situation; viii) Those in situations of armed conflict; ix) Children of persons deprived of liberty; x) Those affected by the war on drugs; xi) Those living with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or other sexually-transmitted infections; xii) Victims of nature-induced or human-induced disasters; xii) Abandoned in a foreign country; and xiv) Those experiencing any other analogous condition prejudicial to their development; (i) Circuit Registrar refers to the Clerk of Court of a Shari'a Circuit Court acting as Circuit Registrar with the duty to register Muslim marriages, divorces, revocation of divorces, and conversions within the respective court's jurisdiction, as provided in Title VI, Book Two of Presidential Decree No.1083 otherwise known as the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines;

(k) Civil Registration refers to the continuous, permanent, universal and compulsory recording 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; (1) Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system registers all births and deaths, issues birth and death certificates, and compiles and disseminates vital statistics, including cause of death information. It may also record marriages and divorces. (m) Civil register refers to the various civil registry books and related certificates and documents, including digital or electronic copies thereof, where registrable acts, events, judicial decrees and administrative issuances concerning the civil status of a person are recorded and kept in the archives of the civil registrar's offices, Philippine Foreign Service Posts, Shari'a District and Circuit Courts, and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). (n) Civil Registrar (CR) refers to the officers performing civil registry functions such as 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 Circuit court; (o) Civil registry document refers to a certificate or any document, including digital or electronic copy thereof, concerning the acts and events affecting the civil status of persons which are recorded and kept in the civil registry. (p) Clerical or typographical error refers to a mistake committed in the performance of clerical work in writing, copying, transcribing or typing an entry in the civil register that is harmless and innocuous, such as misspelled name or misspelled place of birth, mistake in the entry of day and month in the date of birth or the sex of the person or the like, which is visible to the eyes or obvious to the understanding, and can be corrected or changed only by reference to other existing record or records. (q) Consul General (CG) refers to an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) who has been issued a consular commission and acts as the head of a consular post or the head of the consular section of an Embassy and entrusted

in that capacity with the exercise of diplomatic and consular functions, including civil registration duties; (r) Consul/vice consul refers to an official of the DFA who has been issued a consular commission and entrusted in that capacity with the exercise of diplomatic and consular functions. In exigencies, the civil registration duties herein provided for the consul general may be delegated and can be exercised and performed by the consul or vice consul. (s) Cross-Boarder Reporting and Registration refers to reporting of vital events occurring abroad and the parties are already residing in the Philippines. This shall likewise apply to registration of vital events which occurred in the Philippines and the parties are already residing abroad, subject to guidelines issued by the CRG. (t) Customary marriage refers to a marriage that is performed in accordance with customary laws, rites, traditions, and practices, of indigenous people and ethnic cultural communities, and recognized as valid under Republic Act No. 8371 and other related laws. (u) Death refers to the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place (post-natal cessation of vital functions without capability of resuscitation). (v) Delayed registration refers to the registration of a vital event beyond the reglementary period. May be used interchangeably with late registration. (w) Dissolution of Customary Marriage refers to the termination of marriage as declared in a ruling or decision of the Council of Elders, Council of Timuays, Bodong Holders, or other tribunal and body authorized under the indigenous political structure of the ethnic cultural community, indigenous cultural community or indigenous peoples for causes sanctioned by established customary law or practice. (x) District Registrar (DR) refers to the Clerk of Court of the Shari'a District Court who exercises supervision over Circuit Registrars in every Shari'a District. He shall, in addition to an entry book, keep and bind copies of certificates of Marriage, Divorce, Revocation of Divorce, and Conversion sent to him by the

Circuit Registrars in separate general registers. He shall send copies to the office of the Civil Registrar-General, in accordance with this Act. (y) Document owner refers to the individual whose legal identity and other vital statistics are recorded in the civil registry document or legal instrument in accordance with this Act. (z) Fetal Death refers to death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, where the death is indicated by the fact that after such separation, the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, where the fetus has a weight, gestational age, or body length to be prescribed in accordance with this act. (aa) Foreign service post refers to all Philippine embassies, missions, consulates general, and other foreign service establishments maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs. (bb) Foundling refers to a deserted or abandoned child or infant with unknown facts of birth and parentage, or those who have been duly registered as a foundling during infancy, but have reached the age of majority and have not benefitted from adoption pursuant to RA 11767, or the "Foundling Recognition and Protection Act". (cc) Health facility refers to facilities or institutions, whether stationary or mobile, land-based or otherwise that provides diagnostics, therapeutic, rehabilitative, and other healthcare services, except medical radiation facilities and hospital- based or stand-alone pharmacies. (dd) Informant refers to the person responsible for providing the facts of birth, death, or marriage, who shall certify the accuracy of the personal information recorded for purposes of registration. (ee) Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs)/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) refer to a group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized community on communally bounded and self- defined territory, and who have, under claims of ownership since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized such

territories, sharing common bonds of language, customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits, or who have, through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically differentiated from the majority of Filipinos. ICC/Ips shall likewise include people who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the country, at the time of conquest or colonization, or at the time of inroads of non-indigenous religions and cultures, or the establishment of present state boundaries, who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural, and political institutions, but who may have been displaced from their traditional domains or who may have resettled outside their ancestral domains. (ff) Legal Instruments are registrable instruments in the form of an affidavit or certificate which affect the civil status of persons as enumerated in this Act. These acts are executed or issued without an order from the court. (gg) Live birth refers to a complete expulsion or extraction from its mother, of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, that after such expulsion or extraction, 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; (hh) Local Civil Registrar (LCR) refers to the head of the city or municipality in charge of Civil Registry Office, as the case may be, who is appointed as such by the city or municipal mayor in accordance with the provisions of existing laws. ii) Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) refers to an office or department in the city or municipal government that is mandated to perform civil registration functions. (ji) Manner of Death refers to the circumstances in which a death arose as stated on the medical certification of cause of death form. (kk) Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social

institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation, except that marriage settlements may fix the property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by the Family Code. (Il) Mass death occurs when several persons die due to natural calamities, accidents, epidemics etc. (mm) Medicolegal Death refers to death that must be reported to medicolegal officers of the Philippine National Police or National Bureau of Investigation, in accordance with this act. (nn) Medicolegal Death Investigation (MLDI) refers to the non-legally binding fact-finding process of seeking to understand how and why a person died, by determining the identity of the decedent, the date, time, place of occurrence of death, and the cause and manner of death. (00) Muslim Divorce refers to the final legal dissolution of marriage which confers on the parties the right to remarriage under P.D. 1083. (pp) Muslim Marriage refers to a marriage where both parties are Muslims, or only the male party is a Muslim, and the marriage is solemnized in accordance with Muslim law or Presidential Decree No. 1083. (qq) National Statistician and Civil Registrar General (CRG) refers to the head of the PSA who is also the National Statistician of the government of the Philippines. (rr) Next-of-Kin refers to a deceased's spouse, ascendant, descendant, brother or sister, or any person under the deceased's guardianship or related by consanguinity or affinity within the sixth civil degree or any other person who lived with the deceased in the same household immediately prior to the death. (ss) Out-of-Town Reporting refers to the occurrence wherein 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.

(tt) Philippine foreign service posts refer to the Philippine embassies, consulate offices and missions or other foreign service establishments maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); (uu) PhilSys card number (PCN) is a randomly generated, unique, and derivative of the PhilSys number that will be assigned to every citizen or resident alien upon birth or registration by the PSA, in accordance with the registration process. (vv) Solemnizing officer refers to any religious solemnizing officers as provided under Article 7(2) of Executive Order No. 209 otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines and Presidential Decree No. 1083. These includes community elders, tribal leaders or authorities certified by National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), or authorities duly acclaimed and respected in the tribal communities who perform and solemnize marriage in accordance with the customs, traditions and practices of the community for marriages among Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC) or Indigenous Peoples (IP). (ww) Supplemental Report is an administrative remedy used to supply information inadvertently omitted when the document was registered. (xx) Verbal autopsy refers to a structured questionnaire or interview on a decedent's medical history and signs and symptoms prior to death that is completed by a reliable next of kin to determine a probable cause of death in deaths that are not medically attended. (vy) Vital event refers to an event concerning life and death of individuals, including other acts and events affecting their family and civil status such as, but shall not be limited to marriage, annulment or declaration of nullity of marriage, divorce, adoption, and recognition of paternity.

SEC. 5. Implementing Agency. - The PSA, headed by the National Statistician

and Civil Registrar General (NSCRG), shall be the primary implementing agency of this 29 Act. The PSA shall issue rules in the implementation and enhancement of the civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system, including, but not limited to, registration, copy issuance, and data governance in accordance with the provisions of 32 this Act, including all other applicable laws and policies.

The PSA shall collaborate with local government units (LGUs), the Department 2 of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine Foreign Service Posts (PFSPs), other 3 government agencies, and government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) 4 in order to facilitate the registration or reporting of all vital events of persons in the 5 country and Filipinos abroad.

SEC. 6. Strengthening of the Civil Registration Service of the PSA. - To better

implement the provisions of this Act and attain its objectives and purposes, the Civil 8 Registration Service shall be reorganized and strengthened into a Civil Registration 9 Office which shall perform the functions provided for under this Act. The Civil Registration Office shall be headed by a Deputy Civil Registrar-General 11 with the equivalent rank of a Deputy National Statistician and shall be responsible for central registry document management and archiving, modernization of the Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, policy development and advocacy on civil registration matters, and overseeing the performance of civil registration services. There shall be three (3) Services under the Deputy Civil Registrar General headed by an Assistant Civil Registrar General with the equivalent rank of Assistant National Statistician; a) National Civil Register Service - shall be responsible for the maintenance of the civil registry system database, digital conversion of all received civil registry documents prior to its central archiving (either digital or physical storage), responsible for generation of data in the Production database for research and policy purposes, implements blocking of civil registry documents upon receipt of fact-finding investigation, and keep and maintain the register of Solemnizing Officers Information System (SOIS); b) Civil Registration Operations and Management Service - shall be responsible for receipt, processing, and archiving of all registered vital events in the local civil registry offices, Philippine Foreign Service Posts, and Sharia Circuit Court, effects annotations in civil registry documents based on court decrees, legal instruments, administrative corrections and other existing laws, rules and regulations, and shall be in-charge of the processing of registration of authority to solemnize marriages, and reconstruction of civil registry documents; and

c) Civil Registration Advocacy and Frontline Services - shall be responsible for the customer care and frontline services, implements birth registration programs, policy advocacy and research on civil registration and vital statistics matters, and capacity building for civil registrars and other stakeholders.

SEC. 7. Strengthening of Regional and Field Offices for Civil Registration and

6 Vital Statistics. - To perform the foregoing functions, the regional and field officer of 7 the PSA shall be strengthened through the creation of new Plantilla positions, subject 8 to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

SEC. 8. Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Inter-Agency Cooperation

Committee. - There shall be a Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee whose functions shall be defined in the implementing rules and regulations of this law. The Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee shall convene on a quarterly basis to discuss coordination on enforcement of CRVS laws and recommend policies relating to civil registration and vital statistics for the approval of the CRG. The CRVS Inter- Agency Cooperation Committee shall be composed of: a) The PSA thru its Deputy National Statistician as Chairperson; b) Department of Health (DOH) representative with a rank of at least director level as Vice-Chairperson; and c) One (1) representative from each of the following agencies with a rank of director or higher, nominated by their respective agencies, with two (2) permanent staff members as designated alternate representatives: 1) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); 2) Department of Justice (DOJ); 3) Department of Education (DepEd); 4) Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 5) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); 6) Commission on Population and Development; 7) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 8) National Authority for Child Care (NACC); 9) Philippine National Police (PNP); 10) Bureau of Immigration (BI); 11) Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT);

12) Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao 13) National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF); 14) National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); an 15) National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). d) One representative from among the associations of the Local Civil Registrars, both National and Local as determined by the IAC, in accordance with the guidelines set by the CRG. The Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee may establish technical working groups and task forces, and invite other members or participants, as the need arises, to address specific concerns on the enforcement of CRVS laws and may establish interagency task forces at the regional, provincial and city/municipal level to ensure nationwide coordination and enforcement.

SEC. 9. Powers and functions of the National Statistician and Civil Registrar

General (NSCRG). - The National Statistician and Civil Registrar General shall enforce the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations and, for this 17 purpose, have the following powers and functions: a) Maintain the National Civil Register; b) Maintain the National Register for Solemnizing Officers; c) Enforce the provisions of this Act and other laws relative to civil registration and vital statistics and provide overall direction in the implementation thereof; d) Exercise technical control and supervision over Local Civil Registrars, Shari'a Circuit/District Registrars, and Foreign Service Officers, in the exercise of civil registration functions; e) Issue civil registry documents and certifications of entries in civil registers maintained by the office in accordance with the provisions of this act and upon payment of prescribed fees; f) Assign a PhilSys number (PSN) upon registration of birth, which shall be used by each registrant for the registration and reporting of all vital events; g) Develop modules and training programs for stakeholders involved in providing civil registration services;

h) Establish and implement strategies and mechanisms to ensure the accessibility of civil registration services; i) develop and adopt appropriate technology to facilitate and improve access to modernize the Philippine civil registration and vital statistics system and to improve access to and efficiency of civil registration services; j) Issue guidelines on reconstruction of burned, destroyed and lost civil registry records; k) In cases of national calamity or disasters, coordinate with the national, regional, or local disaster risk reduction and management council to ensure continuity or resumption of civil registration services; 1) Conduct a comprehensive, nationwide information, education, and communications campaign regarding this Act; m) Deny requests and/or refuse issuance of civil registry documents and certificates found to be fraudulently registered and/or fictitious, except for investigation purposes from law enforcement agencies and other government agencies with investigative and/or quasi-judicial powers, and court orders, subject to the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, RA 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and its implementing guidelines; n) Ensure accuracy of annotation in the civil registry documents including modification, revision, and correction of clerical errors in the annotation of administrative decisions, court decrees and legal instrument (CDLI); o) Exercise quasi-judicial function in accordance with this Act; p) Exercise inspection and visitorial functions over stakeholders exercising civil registration function; and q) Such other functions in connection with the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Technical Control and Supervision. - The CRG shall have technical

control and supervision over Local Civil Registrars, Shari'a Circuit and District Registrars, and Consul General/Consul/Vice Consul, and shall: a) Review motu proprio, and declare ultra vires acts or omissions of Local Civil Registrars, Sharia Circuit and District Registrars, and Consul General/Consul/Vice Consul in the exercise of civil registration functions, and order modification of such acts or omissions; and

b) Issue rules, regulations, guidelines, criteria, and standard operating procedures for carrying out the purposes of this act, to guide the performance of civil registration functions by Local Civil Registrars, Shari'a Circuit and District Registrars, and Consul General/Consul/Vice Consul, and other officers who may be designated by law and to prescribe the necessary forms for proper compliance with these laws.

SEC. 11. Visitorial Power of CRG. - The CRG in the exercise of its Technical

8 Control and Supervision over the civil registration functions of the Local Civil 9 Registrars, Sharia Circuit and District Registrars, and Consul General/Consul/Vice 10 Consul, and other officers who may be designated by law, shall have the power to inspect, visit and review acts or omissions in the exercise of civil registration functions.

SEC. 12. Investigative Power of CRG. - The CRG, in the exercise of its

investigative powers, shall: a) Take action on and/or report any violation of the provisions of this Act, including the acts and omissions of civil registrars and such other officers performing civil registration functions as provided in this Act; b) Conduct investigations in relation to violations of this Act, as well as irregularities, negligence, or incompetence of civil registrars and such other officers performing civil registration functions as provided in this Act. The CRG, in the exercise of its investigative power shall coordinate with the Office of the Mayor, Office of the Court Administrator, or the Secretary of Foreign Affairs as the case maybe. Above provision notwithstanding, nothing in this act shall diminish the investigative powers of the CRG; and c) Cause the filing of the necessary civil, criminal, and/or administrative actions for violations of this Act and other relevant laws and regulations on CRVS.

SEC. 13. Appointment of City/Municipal Civil Registrar (C/MCR). - The

appointment of Local Civil Registrar or 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 concerned, pursuant to this Act, other existing laws, rules and regulations.

The NSCRG shall choose the Local Civil Registrar to be appointed from a list of eligible candidates submitted by the concerned Local Chief Executive. To instill a 3 culture of professionalism, excellence, integrity, and proficiency in the performance of 4 civil registry functions, criteria for evaluation shall include educational background, 5 experience on civil registration work, work performance, and relevant training as provided in the Local Government Code of 1991 and this Act. The Administrative supervision over the Local Civil Registrars shall remain with the concerned local chief 8 executive. Temporary appointment of Local Civil Registrar shall only be allowed in the 10 absence of any eligible candidates from the list submitted by the concerned Local Chief 11 Executive. Provided that temporary appointment shall only be for a period of 1 (one) 12 year. Provided further that the local civil registrar temporarily appointed shall substantially meet the requirements of this provision.

SEC. 14. Duties and Responsibilities of the Local Civil Registrar. - The local civil

registrar shall be responsible for the local civil registry programs in the city or the municipality of jurisdiction, pursuant to this Act, other existing laws, rules and regulations. The local civil registrars shall develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the CRG, implement the same, particularly those which pertains to civil registry programs and projects in their respective jurisdiction. The local civil registrar in every city and municipality shall: a) Accept for registration reports of vital events, court orders and decrees and legal instruments and validate the correctness and completeness of information affecting the civil status of persons; b) File, keep, preserve and digitize all registered documents and registry books in accordance with the appropriate archiving procedure and this act; c) Collate records of inhabitants from barangay secretaries or through the BCRS on an annual basis, and seek assistance from barangay secretaries for registration of births, deaths and marriages; d) Adopt mechanisms to improve access to civil registration services in the respective locality, such as the establishment of secondary registration

offices, mobile registration, and BCRS; e) Compile copies of every civil registry document registered and transmit to CRG within the first ten (10) calendar days of the succeeding month or within the prescribed period; 1) Act on petitions for revocation of certificates of live birth under RA 11767; g) Conduct community education campaigns on civil registration and assist in the preparation of demographic and other statistics for the local government unit (LGU) concerned; h) Issue certified copies or transcripts of any certificate or civil registry document registered, in accordance with this Act without payment of the prescribed fees; i) Administer oaths, free of charge, for civil registry purposes; j) Receive all registrable documents and transcribe in the corresponding civil register all documents accepted for registration; k) Receive applications for the issuance of a marriage license and issue the same upon payment of the prescribed fee, pursuant to the Family Code of the Philippines; 1) Submit status reports to the CRG on the condition of civil registry documents filed in the LCR of jurisdiction whenever there are substantial changes in the status of files in case of fire, flood, earthquake and other natural and or manmade calamities; m) Reconstruct destroyed civil registry records upon compliance with the requirements following the procedures established by the CRG; n) Ensure the availability of civil registry forms at all times in the LCRO; o) Act on petitions pursuant to RA 9048, as amended by RA 10172, RA 11642 or the "Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act", RA 11767, and other relevant existing laws.

SEC. 15. Duties and Responsibilities of the District Registrar of a Shari'a District

29 Court. - The clerk of court of the Shari'a district court shall, in addition to the regular 30 functions, perform the tasks of a civil registrar and act as district registrar of Muslim

1 marriages, divorces, revocations of divorces, and conversions within the territorial 2 jurisdiction of said court. Every district registrar shall exercise supervision over circuit registrars in every 4 Sharia district court and shall, in addition to maintaining an entry book, preserve 5 copies of certificates of marriage, divorce, revocation of divorce, and conversion received from circuit registrars in separate general registers. The district registrar shall transmit copies of such civil registry documents to the CRG in the form and manner 8 prescribed by the CRG.

SEC. 16. Duties and Responsibilities of the Sharia Circuit Registrars. - The clerk

of court of the Shari'a Circuit Court shall act as circuit registrars of Muslim marriages, divorces, revocations of divorce, and conversions, within the respective territorial jurisdiction. For this purpose, the circuit registrars shall: a) Register and file certificates of Muslim marriages, divorces, revocations of divorce, and conversions, and such other documents presented for registration; b) Issue certified copies or transcripts of any certificate or document registered by the office in accordance with this Act; c) Compile certificates of Muslim marriages, divorces, revocations of divorce, and conversions to Islam and transmit the same to the district registrar in the manner and form prescribed by the CRG; d) File, keep, preserve and digitize all registered documents and registry books in accordance with the appropriate archiving procedure and this act; and e) Administer oaths for civil registration purposes, free of charge.

SEC. 17. Duties and Responsibilities of Consul General/Consul/Vice Consul. -

Consul General/Consul/Vice Consul within the Philippine Foreign Service Posts shall: a) Receive reports or records of vital events of Filipinos occurring abroad; b) File, keep, preserve, and digitize all registered and reported documents and registry books in accordance with the appropriate archiving procedure and this act; c) Submit copies of reported and registered vital events to CRG on a regular basis, as prescribed by the CRG; d) Register vital events occurring to Filipinos within the Philippine foreign service

posts or while in transit to a foreign destination; e) Facilitate the registration of undocumented Filipinos and Filipinos at risk of statelessness abroad, in coordination with the CRG.

SEC. 18. Civil Registry Books. - The civil registry books making up the civil

5 register under this Act, and all records relating thereto shall be considered public 6 documents and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein. In cases of discrepancy between civil registry documents issued by local civil registrars, Shari'a circuit or district registrars, and consul general/consul/vice consul, 9 and the civil registry documents issued by the Civil Registrar General, the latter shall 10 prevail. Every Local Civil Registrar shall maintain, keep, and preserve in a secured place in his/her office the following registry books where he/she shall properly enter the acts, events, and judicial decrees concerning the civil status of persons: a) Register of births; b) Register of foundlings or persons with no known parents; c) Register of deaths; d) Register of fetal deaths; e) Register of marriages; f) Register of court decrees/orders; g) Register of legal instruments; h) Register of Administrative Order; and i) Register of applications for marriage license. The Circuit Registrar of the Court of Shari'a Circuit Court shall maintain, keep, and preserve in a secured place in his/her office the following registry books where he/she shall properly enter the acts, events, and judicial decrees concerning the civil status of persons in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 1083: a) Register of Muslim marriages; b) Register of Muslim divorces; c) Register of revocation of Muslim divorces; d) Register of conversion to Islam; and e) Register of Court Decrees / Orders. Philippine Foreign Service Posts (PFSPs) shall maintain the following registers:

a) Register of Marriage between Filipinos, celebrated within foreign service posts; b) Register of births of Foundlings / persons with no known parents; c) Register of Legal Instrument The PFSPs shall likewise maintain a database for the following: a) Reports of Birth; b) Reports of Death; and c) Reports of Marriages; The CRG may prescribe additional registers for other registrable documents.

SEC. 19. Operative Act of Registration. - Unless otherwise provided in this Act,

the Local Civil Registrar, Consul General/Vice Consul/Consul and Shari'a Circuit Registrar shall register the vital event upon ensuring that: a) The appropriate form is used and the form is properly and completely accomplished. b) The information provided is complete and correct based on the document submitted. c) All required documents are submitted. d) The information insofar as the identity and civil status of the persons involved are correct; and e) Based on available information, the vital event has not been previously registered.

SEC. 20. Registration of Court Decree/Order. - Judicial decrees concerning the

civil status of persons shall be recorded in the Civil Register. The following are the Registrable Orders or Decrees of Courts: a) Judicial Adoption; b) Rescission of Judicial Adoption; c) Annulment of Marriage; d) Declaration of Nullity of Marriage; e) Declaration of Presumptive Death, f) Compulsory Recognition of Illegitimate Child; 9) Voluntary Recognition of Minor Illegitimate Child; h) Appointment of Guardian;

i) Termination of Guardianship; j) Judicial Determination of Filiation; k) Judicial Naturalization; 1) Judicial Cancellation of Naturalization; m) Judicial Determination of the Fact of Reappearance, if disputed; n) Separation of Property; 0) Revival of Former Property Regime; p) Correction/Cancellation of Entries in the Civil Register; q) Recognition of Foreign Court Orders; and r) Other court orders/decrees that affect the civil status of a person. The civil registrar shall properly enter the registrable events and court orders or decrees.

SEC. 21. Free Civil Registration Services. - The timely civil registration of vital

events shall be completely free of charge. No fees for processing or for the preparation of supporting documents, including miscellaneous and computer fees, shall be imposed; provided that, in case of late or delayed registration of births, deaths or marriages, a processing fee may be charged, subject to limits prescribed by the CRG. Upon registration of the vital event, the applicant shall be given a personal copy of the civil registry document free of charge. Succeeding copies of birth, death, marriage certificates and other civil registry documents may be issued upon payment of fees as prescribed by the CRG. For registration of registrable judicial order, administrative issuances, and legal instruments, a standard fee shall be collected as prescribed by the CRG.

SEC. 22. Place of Registration. - Unless otherwise provided in this Act, vital

events occurring in the Philippines shall be registered in the city or municipality where said vital event occurred.

SEC. 23. Reporting of Vital Events Occurring Abroad. - All vital events occurring

to Filipinos residing abroad (permanently or temporarily) shall be reported to the Philippine Foreign Service Posts of the country of residence or whether the vital event took place. If no PFSP exists in such country, reporting shall be made to the nearest 31 PFSP.

SEC. 24. Cross-Boarder Reporting and Registration. - The Civil Registrar General

2 (CRG) shall issue guidelines on the reporting of vital events occurring abroad where the parties are already residing in the Philippines at the time of reporting. The same shall apply to the registration of vital events occurring in the 5 Philippines where the parties are already residing abroad at the time of registration

SEC. 25. Mandatory Continuing Education and Training Program. - To ensure

the efficient and effective delivery of civil registration services, the CRG, in coordination with LGUs, the Supreme Court, the DFA, and other relevant stakeholders, 9 shall conduct continuing education and training program for LCRs, Shari'a District/Circuit Registrars, Consul Generals/Consuls/Vice Consuls, their staff, and all barangay officials under this Act. Such training programs shall be initiated and conducted based on Training Needs 13 Analysis, and evaluated regularly throughout the year by the CRG, through the Civil Registration Office. In addition to civil registrars, all physicians shall be required to undergo training on their duties and responsibilities in relation to civil registration, including on medical certification of cause of death. The Department of Health (DOH) shall provide capacity building for local health officers, physicians, and other members of the health sector 19 on their duties and responsibilities in relation to civil registration. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall likewise ensure that birth registration, death registration, and medical certification of cause of death are integrated in the curriculum of all medical schools in the Philippines.

SEC. 26. Professionalization of Civil Registration profession. - - In order to build

a cadre of local civil registrar professionals, the DBM shall create Local Civil Registrar positions in the government based on the qualification standards recommended by the CRG and approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The PSA shall ensure the professionalization of local civil registrar practitioners and for these purposes, shall develop the following: a) A competency framework to identify the skills, knowledge, and attribute of each of the civil registrar positions; b) A certification framework to upscale civil registration competencies and ensure continued professional development;

c) A code of ethics for local civil registrar professionals; and d) An inclusive capacity development program in order to enhance accountability of all local civil registrars. Moreover, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), in consultation with 5 the CRG, shall establish, administer, and regulate a professional licensing program 6 and the continuing education of Local Civil Registrars as the requirement for holding Local Civil Registrar positions in government.

SEC. 27. Barangay Civil Registration System. - The CRG shall, in coordination

9 with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), establish a systematic civil registration procedure at the barangay level, to be called the Barangay Civil Registration System or the "BCRS", where elected and appointed barangay officials shall be mandated to assist in the facilitation of civil registration within the area of jurisdiction, subject to the provisions of this Act. The Barangay Captain shall submit to the LCR of the city or municipality of residence, the names of the Barangay Secretary as Ex-Officio Civil Registration Officer (CRO) and another deputized barangay official as Civil Registration Assistant who shall assist in the registration of all vital events of every individual within the area of jurisdiction. The CRO or Barangay Secretary shall engage the barangay to support the implementation of this Act, including the provision of fiscal and budgetary support to ensure the mandatory registration of all born Filipinos. CHAPTER I REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF BIRTH

SEC. 28. Mandatory Registration of Live Births. - All live births occurring within

the Philippines shall be registered in accordance with this Act; provided that, the birth of a fetus with an intrauterine life of less than (seven) 7 month that dies within twenty- four (24) hours after its complete delivery from the maternal womb, shall be reported to the local civil registrar for statistical purposes, but shall not be entered in the register of live birth; provided further, that, a fetus with an intrauterine life of seven 32 (7) months or more and born alive at the time it was completely delivered from the

maternal womb, but died later, shall be considered a live birth and shall be registered in the register of births and register of deaths, accordingly.

SEC. 29. Persons Responsible for Reporting a Live Birth. - The following persons

4 and institutions shall be responsible for reporting a live birth that occurs within the Philippines, to the LCR: a) The administrator of a health facility, physician, or midwife who attended the birth, in such order, for live births that occur in a health facility. b) The physician, nurse, midwife, or any person who attended to the birth, for live births that occur outside a health facility, such as at home or in a community setting; and c) In default of the health facility administrator or attendant at birth, the mother of the child, the father of the child, or next-of-kin; d) The barangay secretary or deputized BCRAs through the BCRS notification system. The declaration of the following persons shall be sufficient for purposes of registration: a) Either parent of the newborn child born within a valid marriage; b) The mother or, in her absence, the guardian, in case of a child born outside a valid marriage; c) Any responsible person who has knowledge of the facts of birth; d) The person themselves, upon reaching the age of majority.

SEC. 30. Persons Responsible for Reporting a Live Birth Under Special

Circumstance. - The following persons shall be responsible for informing a live birth occurring under special circumstances: a) The driver of a vehicle, captain of a vessel, or pilot of an airplane, as the case may be, and the parents of the child, in case of a live birth that occurs aboard a vehicle, vessel, or airplane while in transit; b) The imam, priest, religious leader, village chief, or community or tribal leader for a live birth that occurs within the religious or indigenous cultural community or, in default thereof, either parent of the child in accordance with this Act; c) The head of the facility that has custody over the mother for live births occurring while the mother is in state custody.

The NSCRG shall issue guidelines on the registration of live births under special 2 circumstances.

SEC. 31. Duty to Report to the Local Civil Registrar of Live Birth. - It shall be

4 the duty of the informants mentioned under this act to report a live birth within thirty 5 (30) calendar days from the date of the live birth to the local civil registrar's office in the city or municipality of the place where the birth occurred.

SEC. 32. Duty to Keep Records of Birth. - All health facilities shall submit to the

8 Local Civil Registrar a record of all births occurring in such facility, which shall contain 9 information required for registration, such as, but not limited to, the name of the child, 10 the parents, the medical attendant at birth and the date of submission of registration 11 documents to the LCR.

SEC. 33. Registration of Foundlings or Persons with No Known Parents. - The

13 registration of foundlings or persons with no known parents shall be governed by the relevant provisions of RA No. 11767, its implementing rules and regulations, and other relevant issuances.

SEC. 34. Live Births in Indigenous Cultural Communities / Indigenous Peoples

17 (ICC/IPs). - The NSCRG, in coordination with the NCIP, shall prescribe guidelines for the registration of the ethnic or indigenous affiliation of a child and their parents, and for the recording of names of children in accordance with the naming conventions of their respective ICCs.

SEC. 35. Live Births of Muslim Filipinos. - The NSCRG, in coordination with the

NCMF, shall prescribe guidelines for the registration of Muslim Filipinos, and for the 23 recording of names of children in accordance with the naming conventions of Muslim Filipinos.

SEC. 36. Strict Confidentiality of Birth Records. - The record of a person's birth

shall be kept confidential and no information relating thereto shall be issued except upon request of the following: The concerned person herself/himself, or any person authorized by him/her; b) Legal Spouse; c) Any or both the parents, direct descendants, or the guardian or institution legally in- charge in case of a minor;

d) The Court or appropriate public official whenever absolutely necessary in administrative, judicial or other official proceedings to determine the identity of the child's parents or other circumstances surrounding the birth; and e) The nearest of kin in case of a person's death.

SEC. 37. Registration of Children in Need of Special Protection (CNSP). - The

registration of CNSP shall be made in the LCR where the child was born, if known. If the place of birth is unknown, the registration shall be made in the place where the 9 child was found. The Registration of CNSP shall be made in accordance with the guidelines set by the CRG. CHAPTER II REGISTRATION OF DEATHS AND FETAL DEATHS

SEC. 38. Mandatory Registration of Death. - All deaths that occur within the

Philippines shall be registered with the LCR in the city or municipality where the death occurred within thirty (30) days from the time of death, in accordance with this Act. A fetus with an intra-uterine life of seven (7) months or more and born alive at the time it was completely delivered from the maternal womb but died later shall be considered as death and shall be registered in the Register of Deaths. However, a fetus with an intra-uterine life of less than seven (7) months is not deemed born if it dies within twenty-four (24) hours after its complete delivery from the mother's womb. For statistical purposes, a certificate of Death shall be prepared in duplicate, and a copy of each shall be forwarded to the Office of the Civil Registrar and the Office of the Civil Registrar-General

SEC. 39. Registration of Fetal Death. - Fetal deaths shall likewise be registered

with the local civil registrar where the death occurred within thirty (30) days from the time of death, in accordance with this Act.

SEC. 40. Registration of Mass Death. - Where the deceased cannot be identified,

the Local Health Officer, pursuant to existing guidelines and in the exercise of their 31 discretion, may issue and cause the registration of the death certificate bearing the

annotation "Body Not Identified". The NSCRG shall issue guidelines on the registration of mass deaths.

SEC. 41. Permit to Dispose of Dead Bodies. - No remains shall be buried,

4 cremated, donated, transferred, or otherwise disposed of without a permit to dispose 5 of dead bodies issued by the Local Health Officer in the city or municipality where the 6 decedent died. A permit to dispose of human remains shall only be issued upon the submission of the duly accomplished death certificate to the Local Health Officer. In the case of medicolegal deaths, such permit shall only be issued upon approval of the Medicolegal Officer conducting the medicolegal death investigation. The DOH shall, in coordination with the NSCRG and the DILG, establish 11 mechanisms for adoption of Local Health Officers to ensure that there is no interruption of services on weekends, holidays, and instances of absence of a Local 13 Health Officer, such as: a) Assignment of a Provincial Health Officer or Local Health Officer of a contiguous city or municipality in case of absence of the Local Health Officer; b) Temporary appointment of a government physician to perform the functions of the Local Health Officer under this Act; or c) Enabling reporting of deaths to Barangay Secretaries during weekends or holidays: Provided, That the cause of death has been determined and certified in accordance with this Act, and that the death is immediately reported to the Local Health Officer.

SEC. 42. Person Responsible for Reporting a Death. - The following shall be

responsible for reporting a death occurring within the Philippines to the LCR in accordance with this Act: a) The head of the health facility, or the physician who last attended to the deceased, for deaths occurring in a health facility; b) The physician who attended to the deceased during their last illness, or in their absence, the next-of-kin, or in their default, any person who has knowledge of the death, for deaths occurring outside health facilities; or c) Medicolegal officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for medicolegal deaths reported to them.

It shall be the duty of funeral parlors, burial facilities, crematoriums, and 2 embalmers to report a death to the LCR pursuant to this Act and other relevant laws, 3 rules, and regulations, upon knowledge that a death has not been registered.

SEC. 43. Person Responsible for Reporting a Death Under Special

5 Circumstances. - he following persons shall be responsible for informing the LCR of the fact of death occurring under special circumstances: a) The driver of a vehicle, captain of a vessel, or pilot of an airplane, as the case may be, or in default thereof, the owner of the moving conveyance, for a death that occurs aboard a vehicle, vessel, or airplane; b) The imam, village chief, or tribal leader, as the case may be, for a death that occurs within the religious or indigenous cultural community; c) The head of a detention facility for deaths that occur in state custody.

SEC. 44. Duty to Report a Death. - It shall be the duty of the informants

under Sections 42 and 43 of this Act to inform the Local Health Officer of the city or municipality where the death occurred or where the body was found, of a death within forty-eight (48) hours from the time of death, or from knowledge of such death: Provided, That in case of medicolegal deaths, the medicolegal officer to whom the death was referred shall report such death to the Local Health Officer within ten (10) days from the date of death or receipt of the report of death. The Local Health Officer, or any other government physician authorized under 21 this Act, shall, upon ensuring that the information provided is complete and accurate, 22 and that the medical certification on cause of death is properly filled out, report the death to the LCR by forwarding the certificate of death and other relevant documents within thirty (30) days from the time of or discovery of death.

SEC. 45. Medical Certification and Determination of Cause of Death. - The

26 cause and manner of death of deceased persons shall be determined and medically 27 certified, by the following persons, subject to guidelines to be issued by the DOH: a) By the head of the health facility or the attending physician, in case of deaths occurring in a health facility and deaths pronounced in the health facility; b) By the physician who last attended to the deceased during their last illness, in case of deaths occurring outside a health facility but with medical attendance;

c) By the Local Health Officer, or other physicians authorized by them, in case of deaths occurring outside a health facility and without medical attendance, upon viewing the body in-person or through video conferencing, and upon reviewing the deceased's medical records; or d) By the medicolegal officer of the PNP or NBI, in cases of medicolegal deaths. The cause and manner of death shall be reported to the LCR in the same manner as the fact of death. The Local Health Officer may designate other physicians 8 to determine the cause and manner of death for deaths without medical attendance: 9 Provided, That such physician has undergone training on medical certification of cause of death, as prescribed by the DOH.

SEC. 46. Medical Certification and Determination of Cause of Death. - In cases

where a person died outside a health facility and without medical attendance, and no 13 medical records are available to determine the cause and manner of death of the deceased, the Local Health Officer receiving the report of death or other physicians authorized by the Local Health Officer shall view the body in-person, through video conferencing, or such other means allowed under regulations, and conduct verbal autopsy to determine the most likely cause of death: Provided, That physicians designated by the Local Health Officer to conduct verbal autopsy have undergone training on the use of verbal autopsy. The fact that verbal autopsy was used to determine the most likely cause of death shall be specified in the certificate of death. The DOH shall issue guidelines on the conduct of verbal autopsies by Local 22 Health Officers.

SEC. 47. Medicolegal Deaths. - The following deaths shall be considered

medicolegal deaths that must be reported to medicolegal officers of the PNP or NBI in cases within their jurisdiction, by any person who has knowledge of such death: a) Deaths due to known or suspected unnatural or external causes, including violent deaths, whether due to homicide, suicide, or accident; b) All potentially unlawful deaths; c) Sudden, unexpected, or unexplained deaths not caused by a readily recognizable disease, including dead-on-arrival cases with improbable or inconsistent medical history or within confinement of less than twenty-four (24) hours;

d) Deaths in state custody; and e) Other analogous causes. Upon receipt of the report, the medicolegal officer to whom the case is assigned 4 shall conduct a post-mortem examination of the deceased and such other 5 examinations needed to determine the cause and manner of death. The consent of the deceased's next-of-kin shall not be required for such examinations. The medicolegal officer shall certify and report the cause and manner of death, in the form and manner prescribed by the NSCRG, and according to guidelines to be issued by the NSCRG in coordination with the DILG, the DOJ, and the DOH. In the absence of a medicolegal officer of the PNP and NBI in the city or 11 municipality where the death occurred, the PNP may authorize a Local Health Officer 12 or government physician to conduct the medicolegal death investigation (MLDI): 13 Provided, That such Local Health Officer or government physician shall act under the supervision of the PNP. The cause and manner of death determined upon request for a second opinion made to another agency shall not be registered without court order: Provided, That 17 in case jurisdiction is transferred to the NBI or PNP upon order of the Secretary of 18 Justice or the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, the agency designated 19 to conduct the MLDI shall be responsible for reporting the cause and manner of death.

SEC. 48. Duty to Keep Records of Death. - All health facilities shall submit to

21 the LCR a record of all deaths occurring in such facilities on a quarterly basis. Such 22 record shall contain information required for registration, including but not limited to the name of the deceased, the certifier of cause and manner of death, and the date of submission of registration documents to the LCR. All funeral parlors, embalmers, cemeteries, and crematoriums shall likewise submit to the LCR on a quarterly basis, a record of all deaths referred to their facility for embalming, burial, or cremation services. Such record shall contain relevant information, including but not limited to the name of the deceased, the date of issuance of the permit to dispose of the body, the name of the embalmer, and the date of registration of death.

SEC. 49. Classification of Diseases. - The DOH and the PSA shall adopt a

standard for the classification of diseases consistent with international standards.

SEC. 50. Registration of Deaths of Unidentified Persons. - The NSCRG, in

coordination with the PNP, NBI, DOJ, DILG, DOH, and other relevant organizations, shall issue guidelines for the registration of deaths of unidentified persons. These 4 guidelines shall include mechanisms to amend the identity, cause and manner of death, and other relevant information on the deceased when they become known, in accordance with this Act. The DOH shall ensure that all funeral parlors, burial facilities, and crematoriums are trained on disposal of unidentified bodies and remains.

SEC. 51. Monitoring and Review of Causes and Death. - The DOH, through its

regional offices and provincial health officers, shall conduct regular and random audits of causes of death within their territorial jurisdiction and shall submit reports and recommendations to the Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee to 13 improve the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of cause of death determination and 14 certification. CHAPTER III MARRIAGE LICENSE AND REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE

SEC. 52. Registration of the Application for Marriage License. - An application

for a marriage license shall be filed by the contracting parties before the LCR where either of the parties reside. The LCR shall enter all applications in the Register of 22 Applications for Marriage License strictly in the order of receipt of applications. The 23 LCR shall record in the said register the names of the applications, the date of issuance 24 of the marriage license, and such other information as may be prescribed by the NSCRG. No application shall be received by the LCR unless supporting documents are 27 attached thereto and no application shall be posted unless it is received by the LCR. 28 Registration of such application shall only take place after the completion of the 29 posting period. All applications for marriage license shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of EO No.209.

SEC. 53. Registration of Marriage. - All All marriages, including marriages

among ICCs/IPs requiring a marriage license, shall be registered by the solemnizing 3 officer within fifteen (15) days following the solemnization of the marriage at the LCRO 4 of the place where the marriage was solemnized. Marriages exempted from the license requirement, as provided in Title I, Chapter 2 of EO No. 209, shall be registered in the same manner within thirty (30) days from the date of celebration of marriage. A marriage solemnized while in transit within Philippine territory is registrable 8 at the place of destination or usual residence of either party. Marriage among Muslim Filipinos performed under their customs, rites, and 10 practices shall be registered by the officiating person, or in their default, by the parties to the marriage, with the Circuit Registrar of the city or municipality where the Shari'a Circuit Court exists. Where there is no Shari'a Circuit Court, marriages among Muslim 13 Filipinos shall be registered at the LCRO where the marriage was celebrated.

SEC. 54. Marriages Exempt from the License Requirement. - In marriages

exempt from the license requirement, the solemnizing officer, in accordance with Title I, Chapter 2 of EO No. 209, shall indicate in the space provided in the Certificate of Marriage the specific provision of EO No. 209 under which the marriage was 18 performed. The civil registrar shall enter the same in the remarks column of the marriage register, in accordance with relevant NSCRG guidelines. CHAPTER IV DELAYED REGISTRATION

SEC. 55. Delayed Registration. - Delayed registration refers to the registration

25 of a vital event beyond the reglementary period under this Act and other relevant 26 laws, rules, and regulations. The NSCRG shall prescribe guidelines on the delayed registration of vital events, in accordance with this Act and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations. Such guidelines shall include but not be limited to the requirements and procedures for the following:

a) Appearance of the document owner in relation to the processing of delayed registration, including instances where personal appearance may be dispensed with; b) Exceptional circumstances, such as the occurrence of a state of calamity or pandemic, necessitating birth registration assistance programs to aid in the expedient registration of birth among the vulnerable sectors of society; c) Imposition of standard fees for delayed registration and/or waiver of the delayed registration fee where the applicant is an indigent, has limited access to registration services, and such other similar circumstances; and d) Other analogous cases as may be deemed necessary to realize the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 56. Delayed Registration of Birth. - The primary documentary

requirements for the application for delayed registration of birth shall be: a) Certificate of Live Birth duly accomplished and signed by the proper parties; b) Accomplished Affidavit for Delayed Registration; and c) National ID or ePhilID

SEC. 57. Waiving of Delayed Registration Fee. - The standard fee for delayed

registration shall be waived upon presentation of any of the following: a) Certificate of indigency issued by the DSWD or by the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO); or b) Certificate of 4Ps. Provided, That certificates of indigency issued by the LSWDO shall be subject to further verification by the PSA; Provided, further, That that persons requesting for waiver of the delayed registration fee should be in the DSWD's Listahanan or other equivalents lists or databases. CHAPTER V MULTIPLE REGISTRATION

SEC. 58. Multiple Registration. - In cases of multiple registrations of birth, and

death, the first registered certificate shall be presumed as valid, unless otherwise canceled by the court. Subsequently registered certificates registering the same birth, or death shall no longer be issued.

For multiple marriages involving the same parties, the certificate of marriage 2 pertaining to the first celebrated marriage shall be presumed valid, unless otherwise canceled by the court. The CRG shall inform the concerned LCR, Sharia Circuit Registrar, or the Philippine Foreign Service Post of the multiple registration upon discovery, for proper action. The CRG shall prescribe guidelines on the issuance of copies of civil registry documents involving multiple registration.

SEC. 59. Supplemental Report. - A supplemental report, using the appropriate

form (Certificate of Live Birth, Certificate of Death, Certificate of Fetal Death or of 11 Marriage), may be filed to supply information inadvertently omitted when the 12 document was registered. The "Medical Certificate" in the Certificate of Death and Certificate of Fetal Death and all applicable certifications contained in the Certificate of Marriage should be accomplished correctly and completely before registration: Provided, That supplemental reports may be allowed only in cases where there is an official autopsy 17 conducted by the NBI and PNP or as ordered by the court: Provided further, That the 18 entry to be supplemented shall only be limited to the causes of death. The supplemental report shall not be used in any manner to change or to correct any entry which was previously entered in the civil register, or to circumvent the provisions of Article 412 of the Civil Code of the Philippines which prohibits any 22 change or correction of an entry in the civil register without judicial order or cases under Republic Act No. 9048, as amended. The civil registrar shall accept only one supplemental report for not more than two omitted information in any registered event. In cases where there are more than two omitted information, all papers related thereto shall be forwarded to the Office of the Civil Registrar- General. The supplemental report may be filed by the parent/guardian or the party concerned, if of age, who shall execute an affidavit indicating the entry/ies missed in the registration and the reasons why there was a failure in supplying the required 31 entry.

CHAPTER VI REGISTRATION OF SOLEMNIZING OFFICERS

SEC. 60. Registration of Solemnizing Officers. - The following shall file their

sworn application for registration of authority to solemnize marriage, in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the NSCRG: a) Priest, rabbi, imam, or minister of any church or religious sect, acting within the limits duly authorized by their church or religious sect; and b) Authorized chieftain or tribal leader of a duly confirmed ICC/IP group by the NCIP. The NSCRG shall review such applications and, after determination that the 12 denomination, church, sect, or religion of the applicant operates in the Philippines and in good repute, shall issue the Certificate of Registration of Authority To Solemnize Marriage (CRASM), and record the name of such priest, rabbi, imam, or minister in 15 the register of solemnizing officers. A denomination, church, sect, or religion shall be 16 deemed operating in the Philippines when such appears in the latest census records of the Philippines. In the absence of census records, the current Certificate of Registration or General Information Sheet issued by the SEC may be presented. In the absence of the foregoing, a certification from the mayor having jurisdiction over the place where its church, temple, chapel, mosque, synagogue, and other places of worship used actually and exclusively for holding religious gatherings, rites, and services is situated, affirming that the religion or religious sect is operating in its locality, may be submitted.

SEC. 61. Grounds for Cancellation of CRASM. - The NSCRG shall have the

25 authority to cancel the CRASM, upon due notice and hearing, based on the following grounds: a) When the bishop or head of religion or religious sect of which the solemnizing officer is a member requests for its cancellation; b) When the solemnizing officer voluntarily requests for cancellation; c) When the solemnizing officer ceases to be a member of the religion or religious sect indicated in the certificate, or retires, or ceases to be a priest, minister, or religious minister;

d) When the solemnizing officer is convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude; e) When the solemnizing officer becomes permanently incapacitated to discharge the functions of their office; f) When the solemnizing officer willfully violates laws or regulations on marriage, or willfully fails to fulfill their duties as solemnizing officer; g) When the solemnizing officer commits other acts in contravention of law; and h) Other analogous circumstances. CHAPTER VII COURT ORDERS AND LEGAL INSTRUMENTS

SEC. 62. Registration of Court Orders. - In case of a court decree/order

concerning the status of a person, it shall be the duty of the Clerk of Court to advise the successful petitioner to have the decree/order registered in the LCRO where the 16 court is functioning within thirty (30) days after the decree/order has become final. The successful petitioner or their authorized representative, in lieu of the Clerk of Court, may cause the registration of the court decree/order. The civil registrar, upon receipt of the application for registration, shall verify the authenticity of the court decree/order. It shall be the duty of the Clerk of Court who issued the decree/order to ascertain whether the same has been registered, and if not, to cause the registration of the same. Applications for registration of a court decree/order filed beyond the 30-day reglementary period shall be processed subject to the rules for delayed registration, in accordance with this Act and the guidelines issued by the NSCRG. The LCRO where the decree/order was registered shall forward a certified true copy of the same to the LCRO where the vital event affected was originally registered, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the NSCRG.

SEC. 63. Registration of Divorce Among Muslim Filipinos. - Divorce in

accordance with PD No. 1083 shall be registered at the Shari'a Circuit Court where the divorce occurred within thirty (30) days from the occurrence of the vital event. In the event that there is no Sharia Circuit Court in the place where the divorce occurred, the same shall be registered in the Shari'a Circuit Court of the place of habitual

residence of the requesting party, or at the nearest Shari'a Circuit Court where the 2 divorce occurred. A Decree of Divorce issued by a Shari'a Circuit Court, once final and executory, 4 shall be registered by the Shari'a Circuit Registrar of the place where the divorce 5 occurred and entered in the Register of Muslim Divorces within thirty (30) days after the divorce has become final and executory. The Shari'a Circuit Registrar shall transmit registered copies of the Decree of Divorce and its Certificate of Finality to the 8 appropriate office, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the NSCRG.

SEC. 64. Registration of the Dissolution of Marriages Among ICCs/IPs. - In

accordance with existing laws, rules, and regulations, the Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage of ICCs/IPs shall be registered with the LCRO of the city or municipality 12 where the dissolution of marriage occurred within thirty (30) days from the 13 confirmation of the occurrence of the dissolution of marriage: Provided, That facts and information contained in such Certificate shall be confirmed in writing by a tribal leader, chieftain, or community elder of the ICC to which any of the parties belongs.

SEC. 65. Recognition of Foreign Decree or Judgment. - The foreign decree or

judgment must be judicially recognized by filing a proper civil action with the Regional Trial Court (RTC). The court decision recognizing such foreign judgment shall be registered at the LCRO where the concerned RTC functions within thirty (30) calendar days from the finality of judgment. The court decree/order, together with the Certificate of Finality, shall be submitted to the LCRO where the marriage is registered for annotation.

SEC. 66. Registration of Judicial Declaration of Presumptive Death. - The Clerk

of Court that issues the order or the successful petitioner of the case declaring the presumptive death of a person shall submit a copy of the court decree/order, together with the Certificate of Finality, to the LCRO in the city or municipality where the court decree/order was issued, within thirty (30) calendar days from the time of issuance of 28 the court decree/order, in accordance with the provisions of this Act and EO No. 209.

SEC. 67. Adoption. - All adoptions processed and recognized under Philippine

law shall be duly registered in accordance with this Act. The registration of Administrative Orders of Adoption shall be governed by the relevant provisions of RA No. 11642 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption and

1 Alternative Child Care Act, its implementing rules and regulations, and other relevant 2 laws, rules, and regulations.

SEC. 68. Rectification of Simulated Birth Records. - The registration of

4 rectification of simulated birth records shall be governed by the relevant provisions of 5 RA No. 11222, as amended by RA No. 11642, its implementing rules and regulations, and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

SEC. 69. Registration of Legal Instruments. - The following shall be recorded

in the Register of Legal Instruments: a) Affidavit of reappearance; b) Affidavit of acknowledgment under the Civil Code; c) Acquisition of citizenship; d) Acquisition of traditional title upon completion of Hajj or Ada, in accordance with Section 17 of RA 9997 or the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Act of 2009; e) Administrative reacquisition and retention of citizenship under RA No. 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003; f) Renunciation of Philippine citizenship; g) Authorization and ratification of artificial insemination; h) Certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage; i) Legitimation; j) Option to elect Philippine citizenship; k) Marriage settlements and any modification thereof before the celebration of marriage; 1) Repatriation document with oath of allegiance; m) Dissolution of marriage among ICCs/IPs, in accordance with their customs and traditions; n) Affidavit to use the surname of the father; o) Affidavit of admission of paternity; p) Partition and distribution of properties of spouses and delivery of the children's presumptive legitime; q) Waiver of rights/interests in absolute community of property; and r) Such other registrable legal instruments as may be determined by the NSCRG.

SEC. 70. Place of Registration. - As a general rule, all legal instruments shall

2 be registered in the LCRO of the place where they were executed except for the following: a) Affidavit of reappearance; b) Marriage settlement; c) Admission of paternity or equivalent document; d) Acknowledgement, legitimation, or voluntary emancipation of a minor; e) Authorization and ratification of artificial insemination; and f) Affidavit to use the surname of the father.

SEC. 71. Registration of Affidavit of Reappearance. - A sworn statement of the

11 facts and circumstances of reappearance of a spouse declared to be absent or presumptively dead shall be recorded with the LCRO where the judicial declaration of presumptive death was recorded, and in the LCRO where a subsequent marriage was recorded, if applicable. The affidavit of reappearance shall be annotated both in the first and subsequent certificates of marriage of the spouses, if applicable.

SEC. 72. Registration of Marriage Settlement. - The marriage settlement

17 signed by the parties prior to their celebration of marriage, in accordance with EO No. 18 209, shall be registered in the LCRO where the marriage was registered.

SEC. 73. Registration of Admission of Paternity or Equivalent Document,

20 Acknowledgement, and Affidavit to Use the Surname of the Father. - The sworn 21 statement recognizing paternity of a child shall be registered in accordance with RA 22 No. 9255 and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

SEC. 74. Registration of Affidavit of Legitimation. - The Affidavit of

Legitimation shall be registered in the LCRO where the birth was registered, subject to RA No. 9858 and its implementing rules and regulations.

SEC. 75. Registration of Affidavit of Ratification of Artificial Insemination. -

27 Children conceived as a result of artificial insemination of the wife with the sperm of the husband, or that of a donor, or both, are legitimate children of the husband and his wife: Provided, That both of them authorized or ratified such insemination in a written instrument executed and signed by them before the birth of the child. The instrument shall be recorded in the civil register together with the birth certificate of the child.

SEC. 76. Registration of Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship under RA No.

9225. - The Oath of Allegiance, together with the Order of Approval, shall be registered at the LCRO or Philippine Foreign Service Post where the Oath of Allegiance was executed within thirty (30) days from its execution, in accordance with existing laws, rules, and regulations. CHAPTER VIII CIVIL REGISTRY DATABASE

SEC. 77. Prima Facie Evidence of Vital Events. - The registry books making up

11 the civil register, both physical and digital, as well as corresponding certified copies shall be prima facie evidence of the truth of the facts contained therein. The civil registrar shall not, under any circumstance, permit any document entrusted to their care to be removed from their office, except upon lawful order of 15 the court, in which case the proper receipt shall be secured.

SEC. 78. Data Privacy and Confidentiality of Civil Registration Records. - All

17 processes, databases, and information gathered through and stored in the CRVS 18 system shall be processed in accordance with RA No. 10173. The PSA shall adopt such controls and safeguards as are appropriate and necessary to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to its data and records, and that the confidentiality of the information handled and processed by the CRVS system is protected at all times, in accordance with relevant provisions of PD No. 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code, as amended, and RA No. 10173. The NSCRG shall issue policies and guidelines on the copy issuance of civil 25 registry documents.

SEC. 79. Generation and Sharing of CRVS Information. - Civil registration

information shall be the primary source of vital statistics. The PSA shall regularly publish vital statistics and reports thereon, in accordance with RA No. 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013. The PSA shall likewise share information to other government agencies, including LGUs, as may be necessary to the purposes of such requests and in accordance with relevant provisions of PD No. 603, RA No. 10173, and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

CHAPTER IX DIGITALIZATION

SEC. 80. Digitalization of CRVS System. - The NSCRG, in coordination with the

DICT, shall develop and adopt appropriate technology to facilitate and improve the 7 CRVS system. The NSCRG may, for this purpose, issue guidelines on: a) The digitalization of civil registration processes and the digitalization of the national register, local registers, and other civil registration records; b) The requirements for the adoption of the CRVS system, including its interoperability or integration with existing IT systems, by LCRs, Shari'a District/Circuit Registrars, Philippine Foreign Service Posts, health facilities, BCRS, and other government stakeholders; c) The use of electronic or digital signatures for registration of vital events, in accordance with RA No. 8792 or the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000. All national and local registers, and all civil registration records forming part of said registers, shall conform to guidelines set by the NSCRG, in coordination with the DICT, taking into consideration new technologies available. The NSCRG may prescribe the form of civil registry documents and reports, including physical and electronic/digital copies, to be used by civil registrars.

SEC. 81. Interoperability of CRVS System with PhilSys Database. - The CRVS

System shall be interoperable with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), in accordance with relevant provisions of RA No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act. The NSCRG shall issue guidelines to ensure the secure sharing and interoperability of the CRVS system with the PhilSys.

SEC. 82. E-Filing. - The Civil Registration Office shall establish an electronic

filing system for the following: a) Petitions under RA No. 9048, as amended by RA No. 10172; b) Submission or Application for Annotation under RA 9858; c) Application for Registration of CRASM; d) Petition for cancellation of CRASM; and

e) Appeals and other processes related to civil registration, as may be deemed necessary.

SEC. 83. Posting and Publication Requirements. - The posting and publication

4 relative to the registration of vital events shall be made in accordance with this Act 5 and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations. This notwithstanding, posting through the official PSA central and field office websites or other official government website shall constitute compliance with the posting and publication requirements under civil registration laws. CHAPTER X PENAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 84. Immunity from Suit of Civil Registration Officers. - The NSCRG, LCRS,

Shari'a District/Circuit Registrars, Consul Generals/Consuls/Vice Consuls, and other 15 officers performing civil registration functions shall not be subject to any action, claim, or demand in connection with any act done or omitted by them in the performance of their duties and exercise of their powers to implement the provisions of this Act, except for acts and omissions done in evident bad faith or gross neglect of duty. Unless the actions of the above-mentioned officers are found to be in willful 20 violation of this Act or performed with evident bad faith or gross negligence, the abovementioned officers are held free and harmless from any liability, to the full extent permissible by law, and they shall be indemnified for any and all costs, and expenses of whatever kind and nature that may arise in connection with the lawful exercise of their powers and performance of their duties and functions.

SEC. 85. Offenses and Penalties. - (A) It shall be prohibited for any natural or

juridical person to commit or facilitate the commission of any of the following acts: 1) Forging civil registration documents, certificates, and registers; 2) Willfully falsifying, altering, or tampering civil registration documents, certificates, and registers; 3) Submitting false information in registering vital events; 4) Using, abetting to use, or possessing falsified or illegally obtained certificates and security papers; and

5) Profiteering and unauthorized facilitation of registration and copy issuance of civil registration documents. Any person who commits the foregoing violations shall, upon conviction, be 4 punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than twelve 5 (12) years, or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) but not more than One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. (B) It shall be prohibited for any government employee or official, solemnizing 9 officer, or medical practitioner, attendant, or health facility officer authorized to 10 prepare civil registry documents to: 1) Intentionally prepare, or aid or abet in the preparation of, a certificate or civil registration document containing false or fraudulent information; 2) Intentionally and knowingly issue certificates or civil registration documents containing false information; 3) Make any unauthorized alteration in civil registration documents, certificates, and registers; and 4) Intentionally withhold information from, or refuse to inform, the LCR of a vital event. Any government employee or official, solemnizing officer, or medical practitioner, attendant, or health facility officer, who commits the foregoing violations shall, upon conviction, be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) years 22 but not more than twelve (12) years, or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand 23 Pesos (Php 100,000.00) but not more than One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00), or 24 both, at the discretion of the court. In all instances, if the violation was committed by a government official or 26 employee, the penalty shall include perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any public office or employment in the government, including GOCCs, and their subsidiaries. This provision shall be without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate criminal 30 cases, in accordance with the Revised Penal Code and other special penal laws.

(C) It shall be unlawful for health facilities and their responsible personnel, and 2 medical practitioners, to refuse to report or cause the registration of a vital event due 3 to non-payment of hospital fees. Any government employee or official, medical practitioner, or health facility 5 officer who commits the foregoing shall, upon conviction, be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) years but not more than twelve (12) years, or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) but not more 8 than One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. 9 This provision shall be without prejudice to other penalties and fines that may be 10 imposed on government employees and officials for misfeasance, malfeasance, and 11 other acts and omissions prohibited by law. In case of acts committed by private individuals, the penalties imposed in this section shall be without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate criminal cases, in accordance with the Revised Penal Code and other special penal laws. In case of acts committed by juridical persons, the penalties mentioned herein shall be imposed on its president, manager, or most senior officer. CHAPTER XI CANCELLATION OF CIVIL REGISTRY DOCUMENTS

SEC. 86. Power to Block Copy Issuance of Civil Registry Documents. - The PSA

may, motu proprio, block the copy issuance of any civil registry document in the civil registry database upon initial findings of fraud, subject to guidelines issued by the NSCRG.

SEC. 87. Special Committee on Cancellation of Civil Registry Documents.- The

PSA may, motu proprio, block the copy issuance of any civil registry document in the 27 civil registry database upon initial findings of fraud, subject to guidelines issued by the 28 NSCRG. The Special Committee shall convene and act as a collegial body in rendering a decision. The presence of the Chairman and one (1) Member shall constitute a quorum.

SEC. 88. Cancellation of Civil Registry Documents.- The Special Committee

shall, upon due notice and hearing, cause the cancellation of civil registry documents based on the following grounds:

a) Fraud in the registration of vital event; and b) Violation of civil registration laws, including those involving national interest. The NSCRG shall have the power to enlist the assistance of law enforcement 4 and investigative bodies to determine the existence of the above grounds to cancel 5 civil registry documents. Investigations to determine the existence of the above-cited grounds shall be completed within a period not exceeding fifteen (15) days. The Special Committee shall render its decision not later than thirty (30) days 8 from the completion of the investigation or lapse of the 15-day investigation period, 9 whichever comes first: Provided, That the NSCRG may grant the Special Committee extension of time to render its Decision in view of the nature of the case. Such decision shall become final and executory fifteen (15) days after the receipt thereof by the parties to the proceedings, subject to appeal under Section 90 of this Act.

SEC. 89. Canceled Civil Registration Documents.- Upon finality of the decision

rendered by the Special Committee under Section 88, the Special Committee shall notify the concerned civil registrar of the finality of the decision, who shall then cancel 16 the affected civil registry document. Copies of civil registration documents canceled in 17 accordance with this provision shall only be issued upon issuance of a court order.

SEC. 90. Appeals. - Any person whose interest is affected by a decision or

19 inaction by a civil registrar or any officer performing civil registration functions under this Act, including the Special Committee under Section 87, may appeal the decision or inaction to the NSCRG, in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the PSA. 22 Appeals from decisions of the NSCRG may be made in accordance with Rule 43 of the 23 Rules of Court.

SEC. 91. Use of Income. - Ten percent (10%) of the income generated from

the civil registration services shall be retained for the upgrading of equipment, system, 26 database, physical facilities, and operations of the Civil Registration Office.

SEC. 92. Transitory Provisions. - For the first two (2) years from the effectivity

of this Act, the existing rules, guidelines, standard operating procedures, and forms for the registration of vital events shall continue to be in effect to ensure continuity of civil registration services. The NSCRG shall issue guidelines, as necessary, to clarify which procedures shall remain in effect notwithstanding the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 93. Appropriations. - There shall be an initial appropriation of One

2 Hundred Fifty Million Pesos (Php 150,000,000.00) in the General Appropriations Act, 3 which shall be included in the PSA's budget, for the digitalization of civil registration processes and the digitalization of the national register, local registers, and other civil registration records.

SEC. 94. Mandatory Review. - This Act shall undergo mandatory review at

least every five (5) years to integrate global best practices, and accommodate necessary modifications and developments to the CRVS system.

SEC. 95. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one (1) year from the

effectivity of this Act, the PSA, shall promulgate the IRR for the effective implementation of this Act. The PSA may consult with the DFA, DOH, DILG, DOJ, Office of Solicitor General (OSG), Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), DSWD, 13 NACC, NCIP, NCMF, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), DepEd, the University of the Philippines Law Center (UPLC), a national professional organization of LCRs duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Privacy 16 Commission (NPC), BI, DICT and other concerned agencies and stakeholders related 17 in the formulation of the IRR.

SEC. 96. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be held

19 invalid or unconstitutional, other parts or provisions of this Act not otherwise affected 20 shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 97. Repealing Clause. - Act No. 3753 or the Law on registry of Civil

22 Status, and all other laws, rules, regulations, and issuances inconsistent with any provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 98. Retroactivity. - This Act shall have retroactive effect insofar as it does

not prejudice or impair vested or acquired rights.

SEC. 99. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. Approved,