Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of the Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act

Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Establish an effective system for providing civil registry documents to citizens.
- Promote efficiency and economy by removing duplicitous processes.
- Enforce permanent validity of certificates issued by PSA, NSO, local civil registries, and Philippine Foreign Service Posts.

Permanent Validity (Section 3):
- Certificates issued by PSA, NSO, and local civil registries have permanent validity.
- Recognized and accepted in all transactions as proof of identity and legal status.
- Conditions: Document remains intact, readable, and contains authenticity/security features.
- Exceptions: Administrative or judicial corrections allowed under specific laws.
- Permanent validity of marriage certificate applies only if not annulled or void.
- Applies to reports issued by Philippine Foreign Service Posts and transmitted to PSA.

Issuance of Civil Registry Documents (Section 4):
- Persons can secure copies of civil registry documents as often as necessary.
- Subject to payment of relevant fees prescribed by PSA, local civil registries, and Philippine Foreign Service Posts.
- Initial issuance, replacement due to loss/damage, and reissuance with DSWD Certificate of Indigency are free of charge.
- Applies to reports issued by Philippine Foreign Service Posts.

Prohibition Against Requiring a New Copy (Section 5):
- Government agencies, private companies, educational institutions, and other entities are prohibited from requiring a newer copy when a valid certificate is presented.

Submission of Other Documents (Section 6):
- Submission of PSA-authenticated birth certificate does not preclude submission of other supporting documents for determining identity, especially for special cases.

Civil Registry Database (Section 7):
- PSA to develop a civil registry database and establish a virtual viewing facility within 6 months.
- In coordination with DICT, to verify authenticity of certificates and reports.
- Incorporate controls and safeguards to ensure authorized access and data privacy.
- PSA may charge reasonable fees for using the virtual viewing facility.
- PSA to continually upgrade the facility and prioritize migration to a fully digitized system.
- Adopt policies to facilitate data registration process.

Penalty (Section 8):
- Violation of Section 5 (requiring a new copy) is punishable by imprisonment of 1 month and 1 day to 6 months, or a fine of P5,000 to P10,000, or both.
- Public officials/employees face additional penalty of temporary disqualification from public office.
- Corporations/partnerships/associations are liable if directors/partners/trustees/officials/employees participated in the violation.
- Criminal liability under Anti-Red Tape Act applies to "fixers" facilitating transactions for pecuniary gain.

Appropriations (Section 9):
- Initial implementation charged against current year's PSA appropriations.
- Subsequent funding included in annual General Appropriations Act.

Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 10):
- National Statistician to promulgate rules and regulations within 60 days, in coordination with DFA, DICT, and Philippine Association of Civil Registrars.

Separability Clause (Section 11)
Repealing Clause (Section 12)
Effectivity (Section 13): 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.