Bill granting permanent validity of birth, death, marriage certificates lapses into law
Individuals applying for passports, jobs, and studies would no longer have to renew their birth or marriage certificates, as Malacañang has approved the bill granting permanent validity of civil registry documents.
In a statement released on August 2, Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said that Republic Act 11909, or the Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act, grants lifetime validity to certificates issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and National Statistics Office (NSO) regardless of the date they were issued.
The measure was passed in the Senate on May 23, with Revilla, former Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, as well as senators Kiko Pangilinan, Win Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, and Sonny Angara as the main authors.
It was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez on July 28 and enacted into law on August 1.
Revilla said in a Facebook Live on Tuesday that the bill was filed to ease Filipinos the inconvenience of reapplying for the civil registry documents every six months.
He explained, "Marami kasi sa ating mga kababayan ang lumapit sa atin tungkol dito. Dati rati kasi, ang patakaran ng marami, dapat six months before issued ang mga certificates para tanggapin nila. Kapag seven months na, kailangan kumuha ka ulit ng bago. Ito po ay binago natin."
"Hindi biro ang gastos at oras na kailangan ilaan para makakuha ng mga certificate na ito," the senator continued. "Dahil dito sa batas na ito na ating sinulong at pinagtanggol sa plenaryo, hindi na kailangan paulit-ulit pang kumuha nito."
With the RA, Revilla said that all birth, death, and marriage certificates from PSA and NSO will be "recognized and accepted in all government or private transactions." This includes government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units, private companies, private and public educational institutions, among others.
The certificates remain valid as long as they are intact, readable, and visibly contained authenticity and security features.