Updated late birth registration law pushed to prevent abuse

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With an estimated five million Filipinos without birth records, a lawmaker has filed a bill that will enable them to register their births while ensuring the privilege is not misused to illegally acquire Philippine citizenship.

Muntinlupa Rep. Jaime Fresnedi’s House Bill No. 11122, or the proposed “Delayed Registration of Birth Act,” seeks to amend the 94-year-old Act No. 3753 or Civil Registry Law by requiring the submission of more documents, tasking civil registrars to conduct field visits and interviews for verification and mandating a 10-day public notice posting to allow objections and challenges for transparency and as a deterrent to abuse.

The draft measure will also impose harsher penalties, including jail time of up to 12 years and fines from P100,000 to P250,000 against persons who make false statements in availing of late birth registration.

According to Fresnedi, the right to a name and nationality is a fundamental one, with the registration and issuance of a birth certificate essential to establishing one’s identity and nationality.”

“It serves as legal proof of existence of one individual and is a requirement in accessing various social services, like education, health care and even government benefits,” he said.

He cited Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data which showed an estimated five million Filipinos still did not have birth certificates, pointing out, “These individuals are left in legal limbo, unable to access basic services and participate fully in civic life.”

Preventive measures

Under HB 11122, there will be stricter guidelines and procedures for late registration to ensure authenticity and prevent abuse involving fabrications or alterations of personal information that endanger the integrity of civil records.

READ: 1,600 spurious applications for PH birth certificates ‘blocked’ – PSA

Fresnedi said his draft measure would require a late registrant to submit the PSA’s negative certification of birth record to prevent the submission of fake birth records across different jurisdictions.