MANILA, (PIA) — Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for enhanced powers for the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and stricter penalties for civil registrars involved in fraudulent birth registrations, in response to the alarming rise in fake birth certificates.
Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 2914, which aims to empower the PSA and establish a comprehensive civil registration and vital statistics system. This bill seeks to repeal the Philippine Law on Registry of Civil Status, which has been in effect for 94 years.
“The law needs to be updated to remain relevant today, as the current penalties for violations are minimal and outdated,” Gatchalian said.
He emphasized that the legislation will address delayed registrations and include necessary updates to deter misuse of antiquated practices.
“If we don’t act, many individuals with fake birth certificates will continue to be issued these documents, allowing them to buy land, start businesses, and run for political office, as was the case with Alice Guo,” he added.
Gatchalian is considering increasing penalties for those who knowingly make false statements regarding civil registration.
Currently, such offenses are punishable by imprisonment of 1 to 6 months or fines ranging from P200 to P500.
The issue of fake birth certificates gained attention following Gatchalian’s discovery that the birth certificate of former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, was reportedly, fraudulently obtained.
To date, the PSA has blocked 1,627 suspicious birth certificates linked to foreign nationals, with 18 cases referred to the Office of the Solicitor General for cancellation.
The agency is also conducting audits on 50,532 birth certificates for signs of falsification and irregularities.
The problem of non-registration persists, with an estimated 3.7 million Filipinos, or 3.4% of the population, lacking birth certificates, primarily from marginalized communities.
Additionally, approximately 14.9 million late birth registrations were submitted between 2010 and 2024.
“We need to strike a balance,” Gatchalian added. “If we make the process too strict, it will burden our citizens in remote areas. But if it’s too easy to obtain a birth certificate, it opens the door for potential abuses.” (JCO/PIA-NCR)
