The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on second reading a measure providing “lifetime validity” of the birth, death and marriage certificates issued, signed, certified and authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Local Civil Registry Offices (LCROs) and National Statistics Office (NSO).
Voting through viva voce, lawmakers approved House Bill 9175 to establish an effective system in providing copies of civil registry documents by removing duplicitous processes and requirements involving the issuance and use of such essential documents.
The bill is expected to be approved on third and final reading next week.
House Committee on Population and Family Relations Chairman Rep. Ma. Lucille Nava M.D. said considering the confusion surrounding the validity of PSA-issued certificates, many government agencies and employers require applicants to submit the certificate of live birth, or death, or marriage printed on the latest security paper (SECPA) and issued within the last six months.
“This is burdensome to Filipinos as it imposes inconvenience and unnecessary expenses, most especially to those who live in remote areas in the countryside,” Nava said.
For his part, House Committee on Social Services Chairman Rep. Alfred Vargas said the bill seeks to eliminate the unnecessary costs, inconvenience and duplicitous burden of securing the most recent copy of the civil registry document.
“The expiration of this document results in additional unnecessary expenses for ordinary Filipinos who are required to submit this basic requirement. In addition, this increases the struggle of first-time jobseekers who are required to submit a copy of their birth certificate in the course of their job applications,” Vargas said.
The bill also provides for the creation of a civil registry database.
It also establishes a virtual viewing facility in local civil registries and in the Philippine Foreign Service Posts to verify the authenticity of the certificates of live birth, death and marriage, and the reports of birth, death, or marriage submitted.
The bill prohibits national government agencies, government-owned and -controlled corporations, local government units, private companies, private and public educational institutions, and other nongovernment entities from requiring the submission of another or newer copies of these civil registry documents when a valid certificate can already be presented.
In the absence of a PSA-issued certificate, the measure said it will be acceptable for individuals to submit the original or certified true copy of the original certificates of live birth, death or marriage issued and signed by the local civil registrar or National Statistics Office (NSO) certificates printed in security paper and has the Birth Reference Number or BReN code or barcode.
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