Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 651)
The main purpose of Presidential Decree No. 651 is to require the registration of all births and deaths in the Philippines that occurred from January 1, 1974 and thereafter, in order to provide accurate vital statistics for government health and social programs.
Births must be registered by the physician, nurse, midwife, hilot, or hospital or clinic administrator who attended the birth. If none of these are available, the responsibility falls on either parent, a responsible family member, relative, or any person with knowledge of the birth.
Births occurring between January 1, 1974 and the effectivity of the decree must be registered within sixty (60) days from the date the decree becomes effective, without any fine or fee.
Births occurring after the effectivity of the decree must be registered within thirty (30) days after birth at the office of the local civil registrar of the place of birth.
Yes, failure to register a birth can lead to penalties. The parents or responsible family member and the birth attendant or hospital administrator are jointly liable for failure to register. If there was no attendant or hospital birth, the parents or responsible family member alone are primarily liable.
Presentation of a birth certificate is required as a prerequisite for enrollment in the first grade in all public and private schools in the Philippines starting 1975.
Deaths must be reported for registration by the physician who attended the deceased or failing that, by the nearest responsible relative or any person with knowledge of the death. Reports must be channeled through the local health officer to the local civil registrar.
Deaths occurring from January 1, 1974 until the effectivity of the decree must be registered within sixty (60) days from the date the decree becomes effective, without any fine or fee.
Deaths occurring after the effectivity of the decree must be reported within forty-eight (48) hours to the local health officer, who then orders registration at the local civil registrar within thirty (30) days after the death.
No fees shall be imposed for the registration of births or deaths within the prescribed periods. However, certification fees may be collected for the issuance of certified copies or transcripts upon request.
Any person who fails to report or who makes false statements in birth or death registration, or any local public health officer who fails to perform duties under the decree, may be punished by a fine of not less than P500 nor more than P1,000, or imprisonment of not less than three months nor more than six months, or both.
Barrio captains and barangay chairmen are responsible for disseminating the decree among constituents and assisting in the registration of births and deaths within their jurisdictions to ensure complete coverage.
Yes, any provisions of laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations inconsistent with PD No. 651 are repealed or modified accordingly.
The decree took effect forty-five (45) days after its approval on January 31, 1975.