SENATE OKAYS BILL ON PERMANENT VALIDITY OF BIRTH, DEATH CERTIFICATES

Students and workers will no longer be forced to secure new birth certificates each time they apply for school or employment under a bill providing lifetime validity to birth, death or marriage papers issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), or its predecessor, the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The Senate on Monday unanimously approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2450, or the proposed Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act, a year after the House of Representatives passed its version in June 2021.

“With this piece of legislation, we have clearly and categorically provided the permanent validity of the civil registry documents regardless of the date of issuance. As such, they will be recognized and accepted in all government or private transactions,” the sponsor and author, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., said in a manifestation after the 23-0 vote.

Inconvenience

“Through this, our people do not have to unnecessarily spend time and money in securing new copies of their documents,” he said.

Revilla noted that while the PSA’s birth certificates have no expiration, government agencies and private organizations would still require these documents using the latest security paper, costing the applicant P155 for an authenticated copy, or P365 when delivered at their address.

“There are instances that applicants are required to submit birth certificates issued within the past six months. For them to get these documents, Filipinos need to spend time and money. This is especially unfair to those who are firsttime job seekers,” Revilla said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the passage of the bill would spare many Filipinos the inconvenience of repeatedly applying for such certificates.

“The gist of this bill is this: A Filipino can celebrate his birthday as much as he wants, but certificates are forever ... If land titles do not have best-before markings, why should civil service documents have one?” he said.

“The certificates of live birth, death and marriage issued, signed, certified or authenticated by the PSA and its predecessor, the NSO, and the local civil registries shall have permanent validity regardless of the date of issuance and shall be recognized and accepted in all government or private transactions or services requiring submission thereof, as proof of identity and legal status of a person,” it reads in part.

Jail term for violators

Once the bill is enacted into law, any violation will come with 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.

“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,” the bill states.