Philippine Statistics Authority-issued birth certificate (Photo courtesy of OPAPRU)
MANILA – Republic Act (RA) No. 11909, or the Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act, has lapsed into law on Monday.
The certificates of live birth, death, and marriage issued, signed, certified or authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), predecessor of the National Statistics Office, and local civil registries, shall have permanent validity regardless of the date of issuance.
The certificates shall be recognized and accepted in all government and private transactions or services requiring their submission as proof of identity and legal status.
The Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) is not included and is valid for only six months as repeated marriage is possible.
Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who chaired the Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization, and Professional Regulation in the 18th Congress, sponsored and pushed for the measure.
"Marami kasi sa ating mga kababayan ang lumapit sa atin tungkol dito. Dati rati kasi ang patakaran ng marami, dapat (A lot of our people have asked me about this. Before, many required that it should be) six months before issuance ang (the) certificate para tanggapin nila (so they will accept it). Kapag (If) more than six months na, kailangan kumuha ka ulit ng bago (you need to get a new one)," Revilla shared in his Facebook Live update on Tuesday.
Listed as co-authors of the bill were former senators Ralph Recto and Francis Pangilinan and incumbent Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, and Nancy Binay. (PNA)
