ILOILO City – A new law establishes the permanent validity of certificates of live birth, death and marriage.
Republic Act 11909 or the Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act, covers live birth, death and marriage certificates issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), its predecessor the National Statistics Office, and local civil registries.
Guimaras’ Cong. Ma. Lucille Nava, one of the principal authors of the measure in Congress, said RA 11909 is a testament to the efforts of legislators to be responsive to the needs of the people.
This law would spare Filipinos from the additional expense and inconvenience of getting new copies of these documents, she said.
Nava is the chairperson of the House Committee on Population and Family Relations during the 18th Congress.
The new law also applies to certificates registered and issued by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts, and transmitted to the PSA.
Regardless of the date of issuance, these certificates shall be recognized and accepted in all government or private transactions or services requiring their submission as proof of identity and legal status.
These, however, should remain intact and readable, and should still visibly contain the authenticity and security features.
The permanent validity of marriage certificates is applicable only when the marriage has not been judicially decreed annulled or void as provided for under the Family Code of the Philippines or any subsequent amendatory law on marriage.
The law further provides that national government agencies and instrumentalities, government-owned and -controlled corporations, local government units, private companies, private and public educational institutions, and other non-government entities are prohibited from requiring the submission of another or newer certificates when a valid certificate can already be presented.
To verify the authenticity of these certificates and reports of birth, death, or marriage, the law also mandates the PSA to coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to develop a civil registry database and establish a virtual viewing facility in local civil registries and in the Philippine Foreign Service Posts.
A punishment of one to six months imprisonment or a fine of not less than P5,000 but not more than P10,000, or both at the discretion of the court, shall be meted to any person who will be found guilty of violating RA 11909.
“If the violation is committed by a public official or employee, an accessory penalty of temporary disqualification to hold public office shall likewise be imposed,” stated the new law. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
