The National Statistics Office (NSO) – Office of the Civil Registrar General (OCRG) will be conducting the 5th National Workshop on Civil Registration (5NWCR) with the theme “Tamang Rehistro, Lahat Panalo” which will be held at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City on August 3-5, 2010.

We are pleased to invite you and your City/Municipal Civil Registrar to the said workshop.

This workshop aims to provide a venue for exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences for the civil registrars, mayors, members of the judiciary, and other stakeholders. Likewise, it aims also to provide updates concerning the implementation of civil registration system in the Philippines. Among the topics to be discussed are the following: (1) Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS); (2) BREQS Experience at the LGU; (3) Frontline Service; and (4) Philippine Civil Registry Information System (PhilCRIS) among others.

Each participant will be charged a workshop fee of PhP3,600.00 to cover the expenses for the venue, materials and other related expenses. We will appreciate it if we receive your confirmation on or before June 30, 2010.

Should you need additional information on the workshop, please feel free to contact Ms. Aurora T. Reolalas, Chairman, Program and Invitation Committee at telephone number 929-5311 or at email address A.Reolalas@census.gov.ph.

We look forward to your favorable response to this invitation.

Thank you very much.

Very truly yours,

CARMELITA N. ERICTA
Administrator & Civil Registrar General

Who Shall Apply

• Any person, male or female, 18 years old and above and without legal impediment to marry each other.

Where to Apply

• shall be filed under oath at the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of the City or Municipality where either one of the contracting parties habitually reside.

• For marriages between Filipino Citizens abroad, shall be filed at the office of the Consul-General, Consul or Vice-Consul. (Art. 20, Family Code)

When to Apply

The National Statistics Office (NSO) revoked the rule requiring solemnizing officers (SO) to attend an orientation seminar before their Certificate of Registration of Authority to Solemnize Marriage (CRASM) is renewed. The move was the result of a series of dialogues, consultations, and meetings with various groups.

The Solemnizing Officers Information System (SOIS) is the primary software tool used by the Office of the Civil Registrar General (OCRG) to maintain the repository of solemnizing officers in the Philippines. For the OCRG, it is used to add a new applicant, renew previous registrations, and assist in validating records of current registrants. It is a query system for the benefit of the public.

Legal Basis

On August 3, 1988, pursuant to Article 7 of the Family Code of the Philippines, the duty to register the authority to solemnize marriages and issuance of Certificate of Registration of Authority to Solemnize Marriage (CRASM) was transferred to the OCRG. Specifically, Article 7(2) states that: Marriage may be solemnized by any priest, rabbi, imam, or minister of any church or religious sect duly authorized by his church or religious sect and registered with the civil registrar general, acting within the limits of the written authority granted him by his church or religious sect and provided that at least one of the contracting parties belongs to the solemnizing officer’s church or religious sect.”

Online Presence

The current version of the SOIS took advantage of the internet to provide online data for all regions within the Philippines. Part of this development includes public access to the basic registry information of the Solemnizing Officers (SOs).

For the Solemnizing Officers

Aside from the issued Certificate of Authority to Solemnize Marriage (CRASM), Solemnizing Officers may check the validity of their license and also keep track of the status of their authority to solemnize marriage.

For the General Public and other Agencies concerned

They may verify within the SOIS website the data of the solemnizing officers such as religious sects, effectivity of the license and jurisdiction.