Full Implementation of Administrative Order No. 1. Series of 2016 "Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 9255"

June 20, 2016

PSA OFFICE MEMORANDUM NO. 2016-02

Please be informed that the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (Revised IRR) of Republic Act No. 9255 (An Act Allowing Illegitimate Children to Use the Surname of Their Father) already took effect on 9 April 2016, fifteen days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation on 24 March 2016. As a general rule, illegitimate children born on 19 March 2004 onwards, shall be registered using the Revised IRR of Republic Act No. 9255.

However, it has come to our attention that there were applications for use of surname of the father that were processed and registered pursuant to the old IRR (Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2004) that resulted to multifarious and complex situations that PSA-Civil Registration Service (PSA-CRS) encountered in carrying out the Revised IRR.

In consideration of the fact that there are still City/Municipal Civil Registrars (C/MCRs), records officers and other civil registration stakeholders that has yet to undergo training on the Revised IRR of Republic Act No. 9255, the Civil Registrar General (CRG), as the authority mandated to provide overall direction in the implementation of the Civil Registry Law and related issuances and exercise technical supervision over the civil registrars pursuant to Republic Act No. 10625 (The Philippine Statistical Act of 2013), hereby temporarily suspends the implementation of the Revised IRR of Republic Act No. 9255 until 31 July 2016.

During the transition period the following cases are given due consideration:

1. Illegitimate children born on 19 March 2004 to 31 July 2016 and registered from 9 April 2016 to 31 July 2016 pursuant to Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2004 (old IRR) shall be considered valid.

2. Illegitimate children born on 3 August 1988 to 18 March 2004 and registered from 9 April 2016 to 31 July 2016 pursuant to Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2004 (old IRR) shall be considered valid.

In view of the above cases, the Local Civil Registry Offices (LCROs) are advised to submit the documents to the PSA-CRS for processing not later than 15 August 2016.

All applications for Republic Act No. 9255 that were previously issued feedback by the PSA-CRS must be returned for re-evaluation and processing.

Full implementation of the Revised IRR of Republic Act No. 9255 shall be on 1 August 2016. cSEDTC

For your information and guidance.

(SGD.) LISA GRACE S. BERSALES, PH.D.National Statistician and Civil Registrar General