29 May 2025 – Child rights organizations under the banner of the Child Rights Network are urging Senate leaders, particularly Senate President Chiz Escudero and Justice Committee Chair Senator Koko Pimentel, to prioritize the passage of the long-overdue Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Bill, with only six session days left in the 19th Congress.
“Sapat pa ang anim na session days kung gugustuhin. Sapat ito para makapagpabago ng buhay ng milyon-milyong Pilipino, lalo na ang mga batang hanggang ngayon ay invisible pa rin sa sistema dahil wala silang birth certificate,” said Mr. Rom Dongeto, Convenor of the Child Rights Network and Executive Director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development.
The current Civil Registry Law dates back to 1930 or almost a century ago. While various efforts have been made to update this outdated system, no comprehensive CRVS law has ever been passed. “Taong 1999 pa ang unang pagkaka-file ng panukalang ito. Almost 100 years na rin ang umiiral na batas. Basic na serbisyo ito, pero nananatiling mailap sa marami.”
Child rights advocates pointed out that barriers to registration are often due to logistical and systemic gaps, such as the distance to registration centers, lack of awareness, and lack of inclusive processes, especially for individuals who cannot read or write. They also cited the high cost of transportation and other related expenses, as well as the repetitive and prolonged procedures that often discourage people from completing the process.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, around 3.7 million Filipinos remain unregistered, including more than 1 million children aged 14 and below, despite recent efforts such as the Birth Registration Assistance Project. In BARMM alone, only 77% of births are registered.
“Hindi pwedeng laging project lang. Iba ang magagawa ng batas—mas consistent, mas saklaw ang lahat ng lugar, at mas permanente ang epekto,” said Mr. Dongeto.
Mr. Dongeto also reminded lawmakers that the bill has already passed the second reading in the House and is slated for third reading in June. In the Senate, the measure has stalled, despite the fact that Senate President Escudero was the original author of the CRVS bill as early as the 14th Congress and filed it continuously during his 12 years in the Senate.
He also acknowledged the previous efforts of Senator Pimentel in holding a Senate hearing on the measure last January. However, no committee report has been released since.
“Ang panukalang ito ay hindi lang tungkol sa datos—ito ay tungkol sa pagkilala sa pagkatao. Sa birth certificate nagsisimula ang pagkilala ng estado sa isang mamamayan,” said Mr. Dongeto.
The Civil Registration Bill seeks to ensure universal and permanent access to birth registration and identity documentation, a foundational right that affects access to education, health care, and legal protection. Child rights advocates hope its passage will be part of the 19th Congress’ legacy.
“Kapag wala kang birth certificate, parang wala kang pagkatao. Wala ka sa opisyal na talaan ng gobyerno na magiging balakid sa pagtanggap mo ng iyong mga karapatan bilang Pilipino. Wala kang karapatang bumoto, magkaroon ng mana, o magkaroon ng travel documents. Magiging limitado rin ang mga trabaho na pwede mong pasukin. Lahat ng iyan ay nangangailangan ng ligal na pagkakakilanlan.”
“Sapat pa ang anim na araw kung gugustuhin. Napakaraming taong mabibigyan ng pag-asa, lalo na ’yung mga matagal nang naghahabol ng maging bahagi ng opisyal ng bilang ng gobyerno. Sana ay maging legacy ng 19th congress ang importanteng batas na ito” Mr. Dongeto concluded. ###
Reference: Richard Dy (from the Child Rights Network), 0998 531 2876, richardjacobdy@gmail.com
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