Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act

BOX KILLE "offer of the demerets TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P2:09 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S.B. No. Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND RESPONSIVE CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM, REPEALING FOR THIS PURPOSE ACT NO. 3753 OR THE PHILIPPINE LAW ON REGISTRY OF CIVIL STATUS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) continues to face significant challenges in implementing universal civil registration in the Philippines, with an estimated 3.7 million Filipinos, or 3.4% of the total population, found to have no birth certificates based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing.' Of these 3.7 million Filipinos without birth certificates, 1.4 million or almost 38% are children aged 0 to 14.2 Compounding the existing problem on non-registration of birth of a considerable percentage of the population is the proliferation of fake birth certificates and abuse of the delayed birth registration system. As of last year, the PSA has found 14.9 million late birth registration submitted between 2010 and 2024, subject to review to verify authenticity. 3 This includes the birth certificate of Bamban Mayor Alice 1 Philippine Statistics Authority, PSA Strategy Bolsters Birth Registration in Asia and the Pacific: UNESCAP, PSA WEBSITE, at https://psa.gov.ph/content/psa-strategy-bolsters-birth-registration-asia-and-pacific-unescap (last visited Dec. 1, 2024). 2 Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development, Civil Registration Bill pushed to help 3.7M Pinoys without birth certificates, PLCPD WEBSITE, at https://www.plcpd.org.ph/civil-reqistration-bill-pushed-to- help-3-7m-pinoys-without-birth-certificates/ (last visited Dec. 1, 2024). 3 Izzy Lee, PSA discovers 14.89 million late birth registrations, ABS-CBN NEWS, at https://www.ak con.com/news/2024/11/7/psa-discovers-14-89-million-late birth-registrations-2227 (last visited Dec. 1, 2024).

Guo, whose birth certificate has been found to have discrepancies. * As of November 2024, the PSA has already blocked 1,627 suspicious birth certificates linked to foreign nationals, 18 of which have been endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for cancellation. In addition, the PSA is auditing 50,532 birth certificates for signs of falsification and irregularities.5 The prevailing law on civil registration, Act No. 3753 or the Philippine Law on Registry of Civil Status, was enacted 94 years ago on November 26, 1930. This outdated law provides minimal penalties for violations of the Act, penalizing knowingly making false statements in relation to civil registration with only imprisonment of one (1) month to six (6) months, or a fine of Two Hundred Pesos (Php 200.00) to Five Hundred Pesos (Php 500.00), or both.& Meanwhile, failure to report the occurrence of vital events by responsible informants under the Act is penalized with a fine of only Ten Pesos (Php 10.00) to Two Hundred Pesos (Php 200.00).? In compliance with the country's commitment to international standards and recommendations in relation to civil registration, including the universal human right to be recognized as a person before the law under Article 6 of the Universal of Human Rights (UDHR), and the right of the child to nationality and registration after birth under Article 7 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), there is a need to revisit the existing law on civil registration in the country. This proposed measure aims to promote universal, free, and accessible civil registration through a modern and simplified registration system for vital events geared towards establishing the most precise identity of an individual for administrative and legal purposes. To achieve this objective, this bill creates the Civil Registration Office under the PSA, which shall be responsible for central registry document management and archiving, modernization of the Philippine civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system, policy development and advocacy on civil registration matters, and overseeing 4 Philstar, PSA flags irregularities in Bamban Mayor Alice Guo's birth certificate, PHILSTAR GLOBAL, at https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/05/22/2357110/psa-flags-irregularities-bamban-mayor-alice-guos- birth-certificate (last visited Dec. 1, 2024). 5 Lee, supra note 3. 6 Act No. 3753 (1991), § 16. Philippine Law on Registry of Civil Status. 7 Act No. 3753, § 17.

the performance of civil registration services. This measure also creates the Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee tasked with addressing specific concerns on the enforcement of CRVS laws, and establishing inter-agency task forces at the regional, provincial, and city/municipal level to ensure nationwide coordination and enforcement. To encourage universal registration of vital events, this measure ensures that the timely civil registration of vital events shall be completely free of charge. Taking into consideration Republic Act (RA) No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act, the PSA is mandated to 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. The PSA shall prescribe guidelines for the delayed registration of vital events, including the appearance of document owner, exceptional circumstances necessitating birth registration assistance programs, and imposition of standard fees for delayed registration, subject to waiver of fees where the applicant is an indigent, has limited access to registration services, and other similar circumstances. Finally, this measure provides guidelines on multiple registration of vital events, including cancellation of civil registry documents through the Special Committee on Cancellation of Civil Registry Documents. To curb the proliferation of fake birth certificates and other civil registry documents, as well as the abuse of the delayed birth registration process, this measure imposes higher penalties for forgery of civil registry documents, submission of false information during civil registration, preparation or facilitating the preparation of civil registry documents containing false or fraudulent information, failure to report a vital event when required, and refusal of health facilities to report or cause the registration of a vital event due to non-payment of hospital fees. These reforms are necessary to ensure the easier and more accurate generation, recording, and retrieval of vital statistics of all persons in the Philippines and Filipino citizens abroad. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. WIN GATCHALIAN

Erinte TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P2:09 SENATE REND BE T S. B. NO. _ Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE AND RESPONSIVE CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM, REPEALING FOR THIS PURPOSE ACT NO. 3753 OR THE PHILIPPINE LAW ON REGISTRY OF CIVIL STATUS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SEC. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Civil

2 Registration and Vital Statistics Act".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy- The State shall promote and maintain

4 an efficient, responsive, inclusive, and accessible civil registration and vital 5 statistics (CRVS) system, as well as uphold a safe and systematic recording of 6 vital events of an individual. It shall implement a modern and simplified registration procedure necessary to establish the most precise identity of an individual for administrative and legal purposes. This Act institutionalizes a CRVS system that provides universal, free, and accessible civil registration, and ensures easier generation, recording, and retrieval of vital statistics. The enactment of the Philippine Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Act reaffirms the commitment of the State to international standards and recommendations, according to the principles of:

(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 Act shall cover all acts, vital events, judicial

decrees, and administrative issuances affecting the civil status of persons in the Philippines and 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 NACC, upon recommendation of the office of the Social Welfare Attaché (OSWA) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), or the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). (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)(5) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines. (e) Barangay Secretary refers to the person appointed by the Punong Barangay, in accordance with Section 394(a) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991. (f) 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; (g) Child refers to any person below 18 years of age, or 18 years or older who is unable to fully take care of oneself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition. (h) Civil register refers to the various civil registry books, and related certificates and documents, including physical, electronic, and digital copies, where registrable acts, events, judicial decrees, and administrative issuances concerning the civil status of a person are recorded and kept in the archives of Local Civil Registry Officers, Philippine Foreign Service Posts, Shari'a District and Circuit Courts, and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). (i) Civil Registrar refers to the officers performing civil registry functions, such as the head of the Local Civil Registry Office, the Clerk of Court in a Shari'a District or Circuit Court, or the Consul General in Philippine Foreign Service Posts. 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 thereto during their lifetime until death. (k) Civil registry document refers to a certificate or any document, including electronic or digital copies thereof, concerning acts and events affecting the civil status of persons, which are recorded and kept in the civil register. (1) Consul General 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;

(m) 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 to, and can be exercised and performed by, the Consul or Vice Consul. (n) Death refers to the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place. (0) 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. (p) Divorce refers to the final legal dissolution of marriage which confers on the parties the right to remarriage under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1083 or the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines. (q) 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. (r) Philippine Foreign Service Post refers to all Philippine embassies, missions, consulates general, and other foreign service establishments maintained by the DFA. (s) Foundling refers to a deserted or abandoned child or infant with unknown facts of birth and parentage. This shall also include those who have been duly registered as a foundling during their infancy and/or childhood, and have reached the age of majority without benefitting from adoption procedures. (t) Health facility refers to facilities or institutions, whether stationary or mobile, land-based or otherwise, that provides

diagnostics, therapeutic, rehabilitative, and other heathcare services, except medical radiation facilities and hospital-based or stand-alone pharmacies. (u) Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICC/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, but who may have been displaced from their traditional domains or who may have resettled outside their ancestral domains. (V) Legal instrument refers to registrable instruments issued pursuant to this Act, affecting the civil status of persons and executed without a court decree or order. (w) Live birth refers to the complete expulsion or extraction of a product of conception from the mother, which after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut off or the placenta is still attached. (x) Manner of death refers to the circumstances in which a death arose, as stated in the medical certification of cause of death. (y) 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. (z) Mass death occurs when several persons die due to natural calamities, accidents, epidemics, or other analogous circumstances. (aa) Muslim marriage refers to a marriage where both parties are Muslims, or where only the male party is a Muslim and the marriage is solemnized in accordance with Muslim law or PD No. 1083. (bb) Next-of-kin refers to a document owner's spouse, ascendant, descendant, brother or sister, or any person under the document owner's guardianship or related by consanguinity or affinity within the sixth civil degree, or in the absence of the foregoing, any other person who lived with the document owner in the same household at the time of occurrence of the vital event, as provided in this Act. (cc) Out-of-Town Reporting refers to the presentation of the certificate of live birth or death to the civil registrar of a city or municipality which is not the place of birth or death for purposes of forwarding to the civil registrar of the city or municipality where the birth or death occurred. (dd) PhilSys Number (PSN) refers to a unique and randomly generated permanent identification number assigned to every citizen or resident alien upon successful registration to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), in accordance with registration guidelines. (ee) Solemnizing officer refers to any person who may solemnize a marriage, as provided in Executive Order (EO) No. 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines, and PD No. 1083.

(ff) Verbal autopsy refers to a structured questionnaire or interview on a deceased's medical history, as well as 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. (gg) Vital event refers to an event concerning life and death of individuals, as well as their family and civil status, including live birth, death, fetal death, 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 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 this Act, including all other applicable laws and policies. The PSA shall collaborate with local government units (LGUs), other government agencies, and government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) in order to facilitate the registration or reporting of all vital events of persons in the country and Filipinos abroad.

SEC. 6. Civil Registration Office. - To better implement the

provisions of this Act, and attain its objectives and purposes, the Civil Registration Service shall be reorganized and strengthened into the Civil Registration Office which shall perform the functions provided under this Act. The Civil Registration Office shall be headed by a Deputy Civil Registrar General with rank equivalent to a Deputy National Statistician. The Deputy Civil Registrar General shall be responsible for central registry document management and archiving, modernization of the Philippine CRVS system, policy development and advocacy on civil registration matters, and overseeing the performance of civil registration services.

There following Services shall be created under the Civil Registration Office, each of which shall be headed by an Assistant Civil Registrar General with rank equivalent to an Assistant National Statistician: (a) National Civil Register Service; (b) Civil Registration Operations and Management Service; and (c) Civil Registration Advocacy and Frontline Services.

SEC. 7. Creation of Regional and Field Offices for Civil

Registration. - To perform the functions provided under this Act, the regional and field offices of the PSA shall be strengthened through the creation of new plantilla positions, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

SEC. 8. Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee.

- A Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee shall be created, to be composed of the following: (a) The PSA, represented by the Deputy Civil Registrar General, as Chairperson. (b) Department of Health (DOH) representative with rank of at least director as Vice-Chairperson. (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 (CPD); (7) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); (8) National Authority for Child Care (NACC); (9) Philippine National Police (PNP); (10) Commission on Election (COMELEC);

(11) Bureau of Immigration (BI); (12) Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); (13) Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); (14) National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF); (15) National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); and (16) National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). (d) One representative from among the associations of Local Civil Registrars, as determined by the Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee, in accordance with the guidelines set by the National Statistician and Civil Registrar General (NSCRG). The 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, as well as establish inter-agency task forces at the regional, provincial, and city/municipal level to ensure nationwide coordination and enforcement. 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 NSCRG.

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. The NSCRG shall 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 on CRVS; (d) Exercise technical control and supervision over civil registrars, in the exercise of their civil registration functions;

(e) Issue certificates and certifications of entries in civil registers maintained by the office in accordance with the provisions of this Act and upon payment of the 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 CRVS system and to improve access to and efficiency of civil registration services; 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 and nationwide information, education, and communications campaign regarding this Act; (m) Deny request for copy issuance of civil registry documents and certificates found to be fraudulent and/or fictitious, except for investigation purposes by law enforcement agencies and other government agencies with investigative and/or quasi-judicial powers, and court orders, in accordance with this Act, RA No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations; (n) Block civil registry documents in the database upon findings of fraud and unblock civil registry documents pursuant to a court or administrative order;

(0) Ensure accuracy of annotation in civil registry documents, including modification, revision, and correction of clerical errors in the annotation of administrative decisions, court decrees, and legal instruments; (P) Issue regulations on the reporting and registration of vital events of Filipinos abroad, in coordination with the DFA; (q) Exercise quasi-judicial functions in accordance with this Act; (r) Exercise inspection and visitorial powers over civil registrars and such other officers exercising civil registration functions, in coordination with the Office of the Mayor, the Office of the Court Administrator, or the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, as may be applicable; (s) Issue rules and regulations to enforce the provisions this Act and other applicabie laws on civil registration; and (t) Perform such other functions necessary to implement this Act.

SEC. 10. Technical Control and Supervision. - The NSCRG shall

have technical control and supervision over civil registrars and such other officers designated by law to perform civil registration functions, and shall: (a) Issue rules, regulations, guidelines, criteria, and standard operating procedures to guide the performance of civil registration functions of civil registrars and such other officers designated by law to perform civil registration functions; (b) Review motu proprio and declare ultra vires acts or omissions of civil registrars and such other officers designated by law, in the exercise of their civil registration functions, and order modification of such acts or omissions; and (c) Issue policies, rules, and regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act and other laws on CRVS, including the standardization of CRVS processes and procedures, and prescribe the necessary forms for proper compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

SEC. 11. Quasi-Judicial Function. - The NSCRG shall have the power

to review decisions rendered over the following: (a) Appeal/reconsideration of decisions of regarding petitions under RA No. 9048, as amended by RA No. 10172; (b) Application/cancellation of Certificates of Authority to Solemnize Marriage (CRASM); (c) Decisions rendered by Local Civil Registrars (LCRs) on Petitions for Cancellation of Certificate of Live Birth of Persons with No Known Parents, as provided under RA No. 11767 or the Foundling Recognition and Protection Act; and (d) Other analogous cases as may be provided under this Act and other relevant laws. To better implement the provisions of this Act and attain its objectives and purposes, the Legal Service of the PSA shall be reorganized and strengthened into a Legal Office, which shall be responsible for the NSCRG's exercise of quasi-judicial functions. The Legal Office of the PSA shall be headed by a Director V. There shall be three (3) Services under the Director V, each headed by Director IV: (a) Legal Operations and Administrative Support Service; (b) Litigation and Enforcement Management Service; and (c) Legislative Affairs and Regulatory Compliance Service.

SEC. 12. Investigative Power of NSCRG. - The NSCRG, in the

exercise of its investigative powers, shall: (a) Conduct investigations in relation to violations of this Act and all irregularities, negligence, or incompetence of civil registrars and such other officers designated by law, in the exercise of their civil registration functions; (b) Take action on and/or report any violation of the provisions of this Act and other issuances relating to civil registration, including acts and omissions of civil registrars and such other officers

designated by law, in the exercise of their civil registration functions; 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. The NSCRG shall, in the exercise of its investigative power, coordinate with the Office of the Mayor, the Office of the Court Administrator, or the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, as may be applicable.

SEC. 13. Oversight Power of NSCRG. - The NSCRG, in the exercise

10 of its oversight power, shall review policies, programs, and projects implemented by civil registrars and such other officers designated by law, in the exercise of their civil registration functions. The NSCRG shall likewise ensure compliance with existing policies, laws, regulations, and ethical standards in relation to civil registration.

SEC. 14. Appointment of Local Civil Registrar (LCR). - The

appointment of a Local Civil Registrar (LCR) shall be mandatory for all city and municipal governments. The LCR shall be responsible for the civil registration programs in the concerned LGU, in accordance with this Act and other existing laws, rules, and regulations.

SEC. 15. Duties and Responsibilities of the LCR. - The LCR shall

develop plans and strategies for the effective implementation of this Act, subject to the approval of the Local Chief Executive, without prejudice to the NSCRG's exercise of its oversight powers under Section 13 of this Act. For purposes of this Act, the LCR shall: (a) Verify correctness and completeness of information reported for registration; (b) Accept for registration reports of vital events, court decrees, and legal instruments affecting the status of persons in accordance with this Act;

(c) Maintain and preserve civil registry books, documents, and/or electronic copies as required by this Act and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations; (d) Receive applications for marriage license and issue the same in accordance with law; (e) Transmit to the NSCRG copies of civil registry documents in the form and manner prescribed by the NSCRG; (f) Issue certified copies of any registered certificates or documents in accordance with this Act and upon payment of the prescribed fees; (g) Act on petitions for revocation of certificates of live birth of persons with no known parents under RA No. 11767; (h) Administer oaths for civil registration purposes, free of charge; (i) Delegate powers and responsibilities to, and supervise staff, in performing civil registration functions, except the power to administer oaths; (i) Adopt mechanisms to improve access to civil registration services in their locality, in coordination with the NSCRG and upon approval of the Local Chief Executive; (k) Annually collate records of inhabitants from barangay secretaries or through the Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS) and, as needed, seek assistance from Barangay Secretaries in the registration of births, deaths, and marriages; (1) Coordinate with the Civil Registration Office of the PSA in conducting information, education, and awareness campaigns for civil registration, and assist in the preparation of demographic information and other statistics for the LGU concerned; and (m) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or relevant rules and regulations.

SEC. 16. Duties and Responsibilities of the Sharia District

Registrar. - The Clerk of Court of the Shari'a District Court shall, in addition 3 to their regular functions, act as District Registrar of Muslim marriages, divorces, revocations of divorces, and conversions within the territorial jurisdiction of the said court. Every District Registrar shall exercise supervision over Sharia Circuit Registrars and shall, in addition to maintaining an entry book, maintain copies of certificates of marriage, divorce, revocation of divorce, and conversion received from Shari'a Circuit Registrars in separate general registers. The 10 District Registrar shall transmit copies of such civil registry documents to the NSCRG in the form and manner prescribed by the NSCRG.

SEC. 17. Duties and Responsibilities of the Sharia Circuit

Registrar. - The Clerk of Court of the Sharia Circuit Court shall act as Circuit Registrar of Muslim marriages, divorces, revocation of divorces, and conversions within the territorial jurisdiction of the said court. For this purpose, the Circuit Registrar shall: (a) Register and file certificates of Muslim marriage, divorce, revocation of divorce, and conversion, and such other documents presented for registration; (b) Issue certified copies of any certificate or document registered by their office in accordance with this Act and upon payment of prescribed fees; (c) Compile certificates of Muslim marriage, divorce, revocation of divorce, and conversion, and transmit the same to the Shari'a District Registrar in the manner and form prescribed by the NSCRG; and (d) Administer oaths for civil registration purposes, free of charge. SEC. Duties 18. and Responsibilities of Consul General/Consul/Vice Consul. - The Consul General/Consul/Vice Consul within the Philippine Foreign Service Posts shall:

(a) Receive reports or records of vital events of Filipinos occurring abroad or while in transit to a foreign destination; (b) Register vital events of Filipinos occurring within Philippine Foreign Service Posts or while in transit to a foreign destination; (c) Submit copies of reported vital events to the NSCRG on a regular basis, as prescribed by the NSCRG; (d) Maintain registry books of such reported and registered vital events of Filipinos; and (e) Facilitate the registration of undocumented Filipinos and Filipinos at risk of statelessness abroad, in coordination with the NSCRG.

SEC. 19. Civil Registry Books. - The civil registry books making up

the Civil Register under this Act, and all records relating thereto, shall be considered public documents and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein. In case of discrepancy between civil registry documents issued by LCRS, Circuit/District Registrars, or Consul General/Consul/Vice Consul, and the civil registry documents issued by the NSCRG, the latter shall prevail. Every LCR shall maintain, keep, and preserve in a secured place in their office the following registry books where they 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; and (h) Register of applications for marriage license. The Sharia Circuit Registrar shall maintain, keep, and preserve in a secured place in their office the following registry books where they shall

properly enter the acts, events, and judicial decrees concerning the civil status of persons, in accordance with PD No. 1083: (a) Register of Muslim marriages; (b) Register of Muslim divorces; (c) Register of revocations of Muslim divorces; (d) Register of conversions to Islam; and (e) Register of court decrees/orders. Philippine Foreign Service Posts shall maintain the following registers: (a) Register of marriage between Filipinos, celebrated within Foreign Service Posts; (b) Register of births of foundlings or persons with no known parents; and (c) Register of legal instruments. In addition to the registers cited above, Philippine Foreign Service Posts shall maintain databases for the following: (a) Reports of birth; (b) Reports of death; and (c) Reports of marriages. The NSCRG may prescribe additional registers for other registrable documents.

SEC. 20. Operative Act of Registration. - Unless otherwise provided

in this Act, civil registrars shall register a vital event upon ensuring that: (a) The appropriate form is used, and the form is properly and completely accomplished; (b) All required documents are submitted; (c) The information provided is complete and correct based on the documents submitted, including but not limited to the identity and civil status of the persons involved; and (d) Based on available information, the vital event has not been previously registered.

When all the foregoing conditions are present, the presumption of regularity on the performance of the duty of civil registrars shall apply.

SEC. 21. Registration of Court Decree/Order. - Judicial decrees

concerning the civil status of persons shall be recorded in the Civil Register. The following are registrable court decrees/orders: (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; (g) Voluntary recognition of minor illegitimate child; (h) Appointment of guardian; (i) Termination of guardianship; (i) 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 decrees/orders that pertain to the civil status and vital statistics of a person. The civil registrar shall properly enter the registrable events and court decrees/orders, as well as final decisions on administrative adoption and other orders/decree affecting civil status of persons rendered by quasi-judicial bodies.

SEC. 22. 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

1 late or delayed registration of births, deaths, or marriages, a processing fee may be charged, subject to limits prescribed by the NSCRG. 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 NSCRG.

SEC. 23. Place of Registration. - Unless otherwise provided in this

Act, vital events occurring in the Philippines shall be registered in the city or 9 municipality where said vital event occurred.

SEC. 24. Reporting of Vital Events Occurring Abroad. - All vital

events occurring to Filipinos residing abroad, whether permanently or temporarily, shall be reported to the Philippine Foreign Service Posts of the country of residence or where the vital event took place. If there is no Philippine Foreign Service Post located in the country of residence or where the vital event took place, such vital event shall be reported in the Philippine Foreign Service Post of the country nearest the place of residence of the party concerned or where the vital event occurred.

SEC. 25. Out-of-Town Reporting and Special Circumstances, -

The NSCRG shall issue guidelines on out-of-town reporting and registration of vital events, and the registration of vital events in special circumstances as defined in this Act, including but not limited to those vital events occurring 22 abroad and the parties are already residing in the Philippines, as well as vital events occurring in the Philippines and the parties are already residing abroad.

SEC. 26. Mandatory Continuing Education and Training

Program. - To ensure the efficient and effective delivery of civil registration 26 services, the NSCRG, in coordination with LGUs, the Supreme Court, the DFA, 27 and other relevant stakeholders, shall conduct continuing education and training program for LCRs, Sharia District/Circuit Registrars, Consul Generals/Consuls/Vice Consuls, their staff, and all barangay officials under 30 Section 28 of this Act. Such training programs shall be initiated and conducted

1 based on Training Needs Analysis, and evaluated regularly throughout the year 2 by the NSCRG, 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, 5 including on medical certification of cause of death. The DOH shall provide 6 capacity building for local health officers, physicians, and other members of the health sector on their duties and responsibilities in relation to civil registration. 8 The CHED shall likewise ensure that birth registration, death registration, and 9 medical certification of cause of death are integrated in the curriculum of all 10 medical schools in the Philippines.

SEC. 27. Professionalization of Civil Registration Profession. -

In order to build a cadre of civil registrar professionals, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall create Civil Registrar positions in the government based on the qualification standards recommended by the NSCRG and approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The PSA shall ensure the professionalization of 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; A certification framework to upscale civil registration (b) competencies and ensure continued professional development; (c) A code of ethics for civil registrar professionals; and (d) An inclusive capacity development program in order to enhance accountability of all civil registrars, promote diversity, promote competition, and optimize efficiency. Moreover, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), in consultation with the NSCRG, shall establish, administer, and regulate a professional licensing program and the continuing education of civil registrars as the requirement for holding Civil Registrar positions in government.

SEC. 28. Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS). - The

NSCRG shall, in coordination with the Department of Information and

1 Communications Technology (DICT), establish a systematic civil registration 2 procedure at the barangay level, to be called the Barangay Civil Registration 3 System (BCRS), where elected and appointed barangay officials shall be mandated to assist in the facilitation of civil registration within their area or jurisdiction, as provided under Section 394(d)(5) of RA No. 7160, and in accordance with this Act and the procedures prescribed by the NSCRG. The Barangay Captain shall submit to the Local Civil Registrar's Office (LCRO) the names of the Barangay Secretary as Ex-Officio Barangay Civil Registration Officer (BCRO) and another deputized barangay official as 10 Barangay Civil Registration Assistant (BCRA) who shall assist in the registration of all vital events within their jurisdiction. The LCRO shall engage barangays in the implementation of this Act, including the provision of fiscal and budgetary support. CHAPTER 1 Registration and Certification of Birth

SEC. 29. Mandatory Registration of Live Birth. - 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) months that dies within twenty-four (24) hours after its complete delivery from the maternal womb shall be reported for statistical purposes, but shall not be entered in the register of live births; Provided, further, That a fetus with an intrauterine 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 a live birth and shall be registered in the register of births and register of deaths accordingly.

SEC. 30. Persons Responsible for Reporting a Live Birth. - The

following persons and institutions shall be responsible for reporting a live birth 28 occurring 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 heaith facility; (c) In the absence of (a) or (b), the mother of the child, the father of the child, or next-of-kin; or (d) The Barangay Secretary or deputized BCRAs, through the BCRS. 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; or (d) The person themselves, upon reaching the age of majority.

SEC. 31. Persons Responsible for Reporting a Live Birth Under

Special Circumstances. - The following persons shall be responsible for informing a live birth occurring under special circumstances: The driver of a vehicle, captain of a vessel, or pilot of an airplane, (a) 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; or (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 circumstances.

SEC. 32. Duty to Report Live Birth. — It shall be the duty of the

informants mentioned under this Act to report a live birth within thirty (30) 3 calendar days from the date of the live birth, or from knowledge thereof, in 4 accordance with Sections 23 to 25 of this Act.

SEC. 33. Duty to Keep Records of Birth. - All health facilities shall

submit to the LCR a record of all births occurring in such facilities, which shall contain information required for registration, including but not limited to the 8 name of the child, the parents, the medical attendant at birth, and the date of 9 submission of registration documents to the LCR.

SEC. 34. Registration of Foundlings or Persons with No Known

Parents. - The registration of foundlings or persons with no known parents 12 shall be governed by the relevant provisions of RA No. 11767, its implementing rules and regulations, and other relevant issuances.

SEC. 35. Live Births in Indigenous Cultural Communities /

Indigenous Peoples (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. 36. Live Births of Muslim Filipinos, - The NSCRG, in

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

SEC. 37. 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: (a) The document owner, or any person authorized by them; (b) Legal spouse; (c) The parents, direct descendants, or the guardian or institution legally in charge, in case the document owner is 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 next-of-kin, in case of a person's death. 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 11. accordance with this Act.

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

13 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.

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 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, cremated, donated, transferred, or otherwise disposed of without a permit to dispose of dead bodies issued by the Local Health Officer in the city or municipality where the 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 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 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. Persons 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 embalmers to report a death to the LCR pursuant to this Act and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations, upon knowledge that a death has not been registered.

SEC. 43. Persons Responsible for Reporting a Death Under

Special Circumstances, - The 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 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 this Act shall, upon ensuring that the information provided is complete and accurate, 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 cause and manner of death of deceased persons shall be determined and medically 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 to determine the cause and manner of death for deaths without medical attendance: Provided, That such physician has undergone training on medical certification of cause of death, as prescribed by the DOH.

SEC. 46. Verbal Autopsy. - In cases where a person died outside a

health facility and without medical attendance, and no 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 25 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 Health Officers.

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

30 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 shall conduct a post-mortem examination of the deceased and such other 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 municipality where the death occurred, the PNP may authorize a Local Health Officer or government physician to conduct the medicolegal death investigation (MLDI): 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 in case jurisdiction is transferred to the NBI or PNP upon order of the Secretary of Justice or the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, the agency designated 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

2 submit to the LCR a record of all deaths occurring in such facilities on a quarterly 3 basis. Such record shall contain information required for registration, including but not limited to the name of the deceased, the certifier of cause and manner 5 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 8 to their facility for embalming, burial, or cremation services. Such record shall 9 contain relevant information, including but not limited to the name of the 10 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 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 of 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 improve the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of cause of death determination and 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 resides. The LCR shall enter all applications in the Register of Applications for Marriage License strictly in the order of receipt of applications. The LCR shall record in the said register the names of the applicants, the date of issuance of the marriage license, and such 7 other information as may be prescribed by the NSCRG. No application shall be received by the LCR unless supporting documents 9 are attached thereto and no application shall be posted unless it is received by the LCR. Registration of such application shall only take place after the completion of the posting period. All applications for marriage license shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of EO No. 209.

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

marriages among ICCs/IPs requiring a marriage license, shall be registered by the solemnizing officer within fifteen (15) days following the solemnization of the marriage at the LCRO 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 at the place of destination or usual residence of either party. Marriage among Muslim Filipinos performed under their customs, rites, and practices shall be registered by the officiating person, or in their default, 25 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 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 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 of a vital event beyond the reglementary period under this Act and other relevant 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 registrations 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 valid, unless otherwise canceled by the court. No copies of subsequently registered certificates registering the same birth or death shall be issued. For multiple marriages involving the same parties, the certificate of 22 marriage pertaining to the first celebrated marriage shall be presumed valid, unless otherwise canceled by the court. The NSCRG shall promptly inform the concerned LCR, Shari'a Circuit 25 Registrar, or Philippine Foreign Service Post of the multiple registration upon 26 discovery.

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

28 appropriate form (e.g., Certificate of Live Birth, Certificate of Death, Certificate 29 of Fetal Death, or Certificate of Marriage) may be filed to supply information

1 inadvertently omitted when the document was registered: Provided, That 2 supplemental reports to the Certificate of Death and Certificate of Marriage 3 shall only be allowed in cases where there is an official autopsy conducted by the NBI and the PNP, or as ordered by the court, in accordance with Article 412 of the Civil Code and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations; Provided, further, That the filing of the supplemental report shall be accompanied by an affidavit executed by the registrant or person filing the supplemental report, indicating the information inadvertently omitted and the reasons for such inadvertence; Provided, finally, That all documents related to the filing of the 10 supplemental report shall be forwarded to the Office of the NSCRG. 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 denomination, church, sect, or religion of the applicant operates in the 23 Philippines and in good repute, shall issue the Certificate of Registration of 24 Authority To Solemnize Marriage (CRASM), and record the name of such priest, rabbi, imam, or minister in the register of solemnizing officers. A denomination, 26 church, sect, or religion shall be deemed operating in the Philippines when such 27 appears in the latest census records of the Philippines. In the absence of census records, the current Certificate of Registration or General Information Sheet 29 issued by the SEC may be presented. In the absence of the foregoing, a 30 certification from the mayor having jurisdiction over the place where its church, 31 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 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; When the solemnizing officer commits other acts in contravention (g) 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 court is functioning within thirty (30) days after the 29 decree/order has become final.

The successful petitioner or their authorized representative, in lieu of the 2 Clerk of Court, may cause the registration of the court decree/order. The civil 3 registrar, upon receipt of the application for registration, shall verify the 4 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- 8 day reglementary period shall be processed subject to the rules for delayed 9 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 Shari'a 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 Sharia Circuit Court where the divorce occurred. A Decree of Divorce issued by a Sharia Circuit Court, once final and executory, shall be registered by the Shari'a Circuit Registrar of the place where 23 the divorce occurred and entered in the Register of Muslim Divorces within 24 thirty (30) days after the divorce has become final and executory. The Sharia 25 Circuit Registrar shall transmit registered copies of the Decree of Divorce and its Certificate of Finality to the appropriate office, in accordance with the 27 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 30 Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage of ICCs/IPs shall be registered with the

1 LCRO of the city or municipality where the dissolution of marriage occurred 2 within thirty (30) days from the confirmation of the occurrence of the 3 dissolution of marriage: Provided, That facts and information contained in such 4 Certificate shall be confirmed in writing by a tribal leader, chieftain, or 5 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 8 action with the Regional Trial Court (RTC). The court decision recognizing such 9 foreign judgment shall be registered at the LCRO where the concerned RTC 10 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 15 of the case declaring the presumptive death of a person shall submit a copy of 16 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 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 Alternative Child Care Act, its implementing rules and regulations, and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

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

27 registration of rectification of simulated birth records shall be governed by the relevant provisions of 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; (i) 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 Such other registrable legal instruments as may be determined (1) by the NSCRG.

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

instruments shall 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 facts and circumstances of reappearance of a spouse declared 10 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 14 of marriage of the spouses, if applicable.

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

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

SEC. 73. Registration of Admission of Paternity or Equivalent

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

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

25 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. - 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 likewise

I legitimate children of the husband and his wife: Provided, That both of them 2 authorized or ratified such insemination in a written instrument executed and 3 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 7 Approval, shall be registered at the LCRO or Philippine Foreign Service Post 8 where the Oath of Allegiance was executed within thirty (30) days from its 9 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 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 the court, in which case the proper receipt shall be secured.

SEC. 78. Data Privacy and Confidentiality of Civil Registration

Records. - All processes, databases, and information gathered through and stored in the CRVS 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 registry documents.

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

2 registration information shall be the primary source of vital statistics. The PSA 3 shall regularly publish vital statistics and reports thereon, in accordance with 4 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 CRVS system. The NSCRG may, for this purpose, issue guidelines on: (a) The digitalization of civil registration processes and the digitization 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 the 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 8 guidelines to ensure the secure sharing and interoperability of the CRVS system 9 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 relative to the registration of vital events shall be made in accordance with this Act 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 23 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, Sharia District/Circuit Registrars, Consul Generals/Consuls/Vice 28 Consuls, and other officers performing civil registration functions shall not be subject to any action, claim, or demand in connection with any act done or

I omitted by them in the performance of their duties and exercise of their powers 2 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 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 8 any and all costs, and expenses of whatever kind and nature that may arise in 9 connection with the lawful exercise of their powers and performance of their 10 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 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 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 officer, or medical practitioner, attendant, or health facility officer 29 authorized to 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 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 than One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. In all instances, if the violation was committed by a government official or 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 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 medical practitioners, to refuse to report or cause the registration of a vital event due to non-payment of hospital fees. Any government employee or official, medical practitioner, or health facility officer who commits the foregoing violation 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 than One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. This provision shall be without prejudice to other penalties and fines that may be imposed on government employees and

officials for misfeasance, malfeasance, and other acts and omissions prohibited 2 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

11. Documents. - The PSA may, motu proprio, block the copy issuance of any civil registry document in the civil registry database upon initial findings of 13 fraud, subject to guidelines issued by the NSCRG.

SEC. 87. Special Committee on Cancellation of Civil Registry

Documents. - There shall be a special committee on the cancellation of civil registry documents, which shall be composed of a Chairman and two (2) Members appointed by the NSCRG. The Special Committee shall convene and act as a collegial body in rendering a decision. The presence of the Chairman 19 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 and investigative bodies to determine the existence of the above grounds to cancel 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) 2 days from the completion of the investigation or lapse of the 15-day 3 investigation period, 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 6 (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

9 of the decision rendered by the Special Committee under Section 88, the Special 10 Committee shall notify the concerned civil registrar of the finality of the decision, who shall then cancel the affected civil registry document. Copies of civil registration documents canceled in 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

15 decision or inaction by a civil registrar or any officer performing civil registration 16 functions under this Act, including the Special Committee under Section 87, 17 may appeal the decision or inaction to the NSCRG, in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the PSA. Appeals from decisions of the NSCRG may be made in accordance with Rule 43 of the 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 22 of equipment, system, database, physical facilities, and operations of the Civil 23 Registration Office.

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

25 effectivity of this Act, the existing rules, guidelines, standard operating 26 procedures, and forms for the registration of vital events shall continue to be 27 in effect to ensure continuity of civil registration services. The NSCRG shall issue 28 guidelines, as necessary, to clarify which procedures shall remain in effect 29 notwithstanding the effectivity of this Act.

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

2 One Hundred Fifty Million Pesos (Php 150,000,000.00) in the General 3 Appropriations Act, which shall be included in the PSA's budget, for the 4 digitalization of civil registration processes and the digitization 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, - The PSA, in

coordination with the Civil Registration Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee and other relevant stakeholders, including national professional organizations of LCRs, shall adopt such rules and regulations for the proper and effective implementation of this Act within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.

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

shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, other parts or provisions of this Act not 16 otherwise affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

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

Civil 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,