APRIL 17, 2014

NR # 3439B

Comprehensive civil registration system pushed

A neophyte lawmaker has filed a measure pushing for the establishment of a comprehensive and more responsive civil registration system in the country. Rep. Lawrence Lemuel Fortun (1st District Agusan del !orte" authored #ouse $ill %&1% which provides for mechanisms for comprehensive and responsive civil registration a barangay civil registration system free delayed registration program for unregistered births due to poverty and free delayed registration for indigenous peoples. Fortun e'pressed concern about the current state of the country(s civil registration system which suffers from deficiencies and flaws that deprive individuals of their inherent right to identity and recognition as citi)ens. #e said civil registration provides the means for the establishment of the identity and the recording of the vital events in the life of a person which are essential in the recognition and protection of his civil rights. *t is a necessary system by which the citi)enship of a person is established and his or her inherent rights as a person are respected Fortun added. +,ost importantly civil registration affords accurate demographic data and other vital information that are crucial to the government(s planning and policy decisions as well as the delivery of such basic services as health infrastructure education and social services - Fortun stressed. According to Fortun the .hilippines has not achieved 1&& percent registration of births. /stimates have shown that at present the births of over 0.1 million Filipino children have not been registered not to mention the million of Filipino adults including a significant number of indigenous peoples whose births have also not been registered due to poverty distance and lack of literacy. Fortun said because of its enormous importance there is a pressing need to introduce and implement a comprehensive and truly responsive civil registration system. *n filing the measure Fortun cited the declared policy of the 2tate that standardi)ation and moderni)ation of registration procedures are necessary to establish the identity of the individual for administrative and legal purposes. Also efficient and simplified procedures in recording vital events must be applied in civil registration for the benefit of the general public. 3he bill mandates the 4ity5,unicipal 4ivil Registrar (45,4R" to keep and preserve

in their offices books concerning Register of $irths Register of Foundlings Register of Deaths Register of ,arriages Register of 4ourt Decrees or 6rders Register of Legal *nstruments Register of Applications for ,arriage License Register of 4onversions to *slam Register of ,uslim Divorces Register of Revocation of ,uslim Divorces Register of *ndigenous 4ultural 4ommunities or *ndigenous .eoples (*44s5*.s" ,arriage Dissolutions Register of *44s5*.s Revocation of ,arriage Dissolutions and Register of Administrative 6rders. 7nder the measure to be known as the +4ivil Registration Act of 0&1% - a $arangay 4ivil Registration 2ystem shall be established to assist in the facilitation of civil registration within their area of 8urisdiction. Local government units (L97s" are directed to implement a free delayed registration program for persons whose births have not been registered and certified due to such factors as poverty distance or lack of literacy. 3he local civil registrar shall enter all application for marriage licenses in a registry book strictly in the order of which the same are received. 3he bill also provides that all applications for marriage license shall be governed by pertinent provisions of /'ecutive 6rder !o. 0&: otherwise known as the Family 4ode of the .hilippines as amended. Delayed registration of marriage and out;of;town registration of marriage may be allowed under the bill. !o human body shall be buried unless the proper death certificate has been presented with the 45,4R. ,uslim Filipinos *44s5*.s and 4hildren in !eed of 2pecial .rotection (4!2." by reason of their socio;cultural religious and peculiarities shall also be registered. Any person whose duty is to report any fact concerning the civil status of person and fails to perform such duty shall be penali)ed with 1;year imprisonment and a fine of .<& &&& or both. (<&" lvc