The House Committee on Population and Family Relations has approved a substitute bill seeking to modernize the country’s civil registry system and address long-standing gaps in birth and death registration affecting millions of Filipinos.
The measure consolidates 29 proposals, including House Bill 5213 principally authored by Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, along with TINGOG Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre.
The bill proposes updates to Republic Act 3753, or the Civil Registry Law enacted in 1930, which governs the registration of vital events such as births, marriages, and deaths.
It introduces reforms to streamline late and delayed registration, strengthen inter-agency data sharing, and support the digitalization of civil registry processes to improve accessibility, particularly in underserved communities.
The proposed reform is part of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., highlighting the importance of a modern civil registry system in improving governance and public service delivery.
Acidre, the committee’s vice chairperson, said the measure marks a key step toward addressing persistent gaps in civil registration.
“For many Filipinos, the challenge is not just access to services, but access to recognition,” Acidre said.
He noted that despite improvements, gaps remain in the timely and universal recording of births and deaths, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
These deficiencies continue to limit access to education, healthcare, social protection, and other essential services requiring proof of legal identity.
“This is where policy must meet lived experience,” Acidre said. “We are not just updating a law—we are correcting a system that, for too long, has left some Filipinos unseen and underserved.”
He stressed that strengthening the civil registration and vital statistics system is crucial for both protecting individual rights and enhancing government service delivery.
“Good policy begins with good data, and good data begins with complete and accurate registration,” Acidre said. “If we want government to respond effectively, we must ensure that no Filipino is left behind—that every Filipino is counted and recognized.”
The committee-approved substitute bill will be prepared for a committee report and submitted for plenary consideration.
“At its core, this reform is about making governance work for every Filipino,” Acidre said. “It is about ensuring that from birth onward, every Filipino is recognized, protected, and able to access the opportunities they deserve.”
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “House panel OKs modern civil registry bill eyeing to fix ‘system gaps’”
