The passage of a bill that seeks to make birth, death and marriage certificates valid for life will benefit many Filipinos, according to Guimaras Representative Lucille Nava.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11909, or the Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act, lapsed into law on Monday, August 1.
According to the Official Gazette, an approved bill becomes a law if the President does not sign it within 30 days from the date of receipt.
“This is a testament of the efforts of Congress to remain responsive to the needs of our countrymen,” said Nava, principal author of the measure.
“Being the chairperson of the House Committee on Population and Family Relations during the 18th Congress, it has been my privilege to sponsor this momentous legislation in the House of Representatives,” she added.
Nava pushed for the passage of the measure to “ease the burden imposed to the Filipino people by removing unncessary demands for the most recent copies of PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) documents and essentially streamline our people’s transactions with the public and private sector.”
RA No. 11909 provides that birth, death and marriage certificates issued, signed, certified or authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), or even those released by the local civil registries, are permanently valid regardless of their date of issuance.
These certificates must be recognized and accepted in all government and private offices, which require the submission of such documents as a person’s proof of identity and legal status.IMT
