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Bill aids execs authorized to solemnize marriages

August 4, 2021 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 448 views

A PROPOSED law seeking to extend the validity of authorization to solemnize marriage of priests, ministers, or rabbis from three to five years has been filed at the House of Representatives.

“Our priests, ministers, rabbis, and other solemnizing officers play a very vital role in our communities. They strengthen our relationship with our partners and our families. Through the passage of a bill, we seek to take some burden off their backs by extending the validity of authorization to solemnize marriage from three years to five years,” said ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said in filing House Bill (HB) 9897 to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 6514.

“This concern was raised to us by the Association of Baguio Benguet Solemnizing Officers. As we work towards making government services more efficient, we shall address this issue to make it easier for our solemnizing officers to continue with their line of work. Rest assured that we will lobby this in Congress for the immediate passage of this measure,” Yap, a caretaker of the lone legislative district of Benguet.

Article 95 of the Civil Code of the Philippines states public official in charge of registration of priests, ministers or rabbis with the approval of the proper head of department is hereby authorized to prepare the necessary forms and to promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the Act.

Once HB No. 9897 is approved, authorization to solemnize marriages will now be valid for a period of five years which expires on the 31st day of December of every fifth year, and renewable within the said month of December.

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