Republic of the Philippines

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

Administrative Order No. 1

Series of 2007
GOAL
 To impart basic concepts and procedure in the
issuance of Certificate of Registration of Authority to
Solemnize Marriage (CRASM)
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
 The participant will learn the basic concepts and
procedure in the issuance of CRASM

 The participant will also identify issues and concerns

and get relevant response relative to issuance of
CRASM
Administrative
Order No. 1
Series of 2007

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 AO 1 Series of 2007

Administrative Order No. 1

Series of 2007
• IRR Governing the Registration of the
Authority to Solemnize Marriage with the
Civil Registrar General of Bishops, Heads/
Founders of Religions and Religious Sects,
Priests, Imams, Religious Ministers, Tribal
Heads/Leaders/ Chieftains, Community
Elders, and Other Designated Authorities.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 1
General Provisions
• The PSA through the Civil Registrar General (CRG) is the
authority having technical control and supervision on the
civil registration in the Philippines.

• The National Statistician of the PSA, concurrently the

CRG, is vested with authority to issue rules & regulations
in carrying out the provisions of Act 3753.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.1 Civil Registrar General
(CRG)
• The head of the PSA which is the
national agency mandated to
carry out and administer the
provisions of Act No. 3753 and
other laws on civil registration.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.2 Solemnizing Officer (SO)
• An officer vested within the authority to
solemnize or officiate the marriage of a
man and a woman in accordance with law
or with the rites, practices, and ceremonies
as prescribed or granted by their
religion/religious sect or tribe or ethnic
aggrupation.

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AO 1 Series of 2007
These include: a. Any incumbent member of the
judiciary within the courts
jurisdiction, as provided in the Family
Code of the Philippines.

b. Any priest, rabbi, imam, or minister

of any church of religious sect duly
authorized by his church or religious
sect and registered with the CRG,
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 sect of the
solemnizing officer.

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AO 1 Series of 2007
These include:
c. Any ship captain or airplane
chief only in cases of marriage
in articulo mortis;

d. Any military commander of a unit to

which a chaplain is assigned, in the
absence of the latter, during a military
operation, likewise in cases of marriage
in articulo mortis;

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AO 1 Series of 2007
These include:
e. Any consul-general, consul or vice-
consul, in cases of marriage between
Filipino citizens abroad;

f. City or Municipal Mayors within their

area of jurisdiction under RA 7160
otherwise known as the Local
Government of the Philippines.
City Mayor

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AO 1 Series of 2007
As provided in Article 18, Section 1,
Chapter II Book Two of PD 1083
g. Proper wali (guardian in marriage) of a
woman to be wedded;
h. Any person who is competent under
Muslim Law upon authority of the
proper wali; or
i. Judge of the Shari’a District Court or
any person designated by the judge,
should the proper wali refuse without
justifiable reason, to authorize the
solemnization

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AO 1 Series of 2007
As provided by the OCRG AO No. 3 s. of 2004, otherwise known
as “Rules and Regulations Governing Registration of Acts and
Events Concerning the Civil Status of Indigenous Peoples”,
marriages between members of ethnic cultural communities or
indigenous peoples may be solemnized by:
j. Community elders;
k. Tribal leaders or authorities and traditional socio
political structures certified by National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) or
l. Authorities duly acclaimed and respected in the
tribal communities who perform and solemnize
marriage in accordance with the customs and
practices of the community

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.3 City/Municipal Civil Registrar (C/MCR)
• The head of the department/office in the Local City Civil Registrar
Government Unit mandated by the law to carry
out civil registration functions.
2.4 PSA Regional Director
• Head of the PSA Regional Statistical Services Office
(RSSO) who assists the CRG in the implementation of
civil registration in the region of jurisdiction
Regional Director

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 AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.5 PSA Provincial Statistics Officer (PSO)
• Head of the PSA Provincial Office (PO) who assists
the CRG in the implementation of civil registration
in the province of jurisdiction.
2.6 Office of the Muslim Affairs (now NCMF)
• An office created under the Office of the President with a
Office of Muslim
Affairs
mandate to preserve and develop the culture, traditions,
institutions and well-being of Muslim Filipinos, in
conformity with the country’s laws and in consonance
with national unity and development. (EO no. 122-A)

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.7 National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
(NCIP) Nationa
lC
Indigeno ommission on
us Peop
• An office created under the Office of the les (NCIP
)

President, which is primarily responsible for

the formulation and implementation of
policies, plans and programs to recognize,
protect and promote the rights of
Ethnic/Indigenous Cultural
Communities/Indigenous Peoples

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.8 Marriage
• A special contract of permanent union
between a man and a woman entered into
in accordance with law for the
establishment of conjugal and family life.
• The foundation of the family, a social
institution that is governed by law and not
subject to stipulation except that marriage
settlements may fix the property relations
during the marriage within the limits
provided by this code.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.9 Essential Requisites (Art 2 of the Family Code)
• The substance of the marriage that affect its intrinsic validity
which includes:
• Legal capacity of the contracting parties who must be a
male and a female;
• Consent freely given in the presence of the Solemnizing
Officer. (Article 2, EO 209 otherwise known as the Family
Code of the Philippines

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.10 Formal Requisites (Article 3 of the Family Code)
• The form of the marriage that affects its extrinsic validity
which includes:
• The authority of the Solemnizing Officer;
• Valid marriage license except in cases of marriages
exempt from marriage license requirement;
• Marriage ceremony

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.11 Marriage License
• Is an official document issued by the C/MCR that gives
authority to be married to each another in accordance
with law. (Manual on Civil Registration, 1983)

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions

2.12 Certificate of Marriage

• The prescribed form used for the
declaration of facts and
circumstances regarding the
marriage of two persons for
purposes of registration.
(Manual on Civil Registration, 1983)

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.13 Certificate of Registration of
Authority to Solemnize
Marriage (CRASM)
• A certificate issued to an SO certifying
the registration of his authority to
solemnize marriage after complying with
the requirements. This certificate
indicates that the SO is authorized to
solemnize marriages under his territorial
jurisdiction within the period specified.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
 The CRASM shall be valid for a
period of 3 years and shall expire
on the 31st day of December of
every 3rd year and shall be
renewable within the last quarter
of the expiration year. The
effectivity date of the authority to
solemnize marriage shall be
indicated in the CRASM.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.14 Register of Solemnizing Officer

• The registry book which contains

the information pertaining to the
registration of SOs

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.15 Territorial Jurisdiction
• A well-defined but delimited area or
place where an SO can validly
officiate a marriage. The area or place
may be the whole Philippines, or only
part thereof, such as a region,
province, congressional district, or a
diocese.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.16 Place of Solemnization of Marriage
• Place where marriage is solemnized publicly
such as in a church, chapel, temple, mosque,
judge’s sala or chamber, mayor’s office, office
of the Consul-General, consul or vice-consul,
and not elsewhere unless with prior written
request from the contracting parties and with
prior written approval from SO, which fact must
be declared in a public instrument. (Art. 8, EO
209 otherwise known as the Family Code)

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AO 1 Series of 2007

 For Muslim marriages, it may be

solemnized in any mosque, at the Office of
the Shari’a judge, at the Office of the District
or Circuit Registrar, residence of the bride or
her wali, or any other suitable place agreed
upon by the parties. (Art. 19, Section 1,
Chapter Two Book Two of PD 1083)

 For Tribal Marriages, it is any suitable

place agreed upon by the parties provided it
is in accordance with their customs,
traditions and practices.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.17 Church/Chapel/Temple/Mosque
Any building, either of strong or light materials or
combination of strong or light materials, which is
permanent in character, and is opened during
convenient hours of the day, and used actually
and exclusively for holding religious gatherings,
rites and services, including solemnization of
marriage, and such building must be under the
possession and control of the religion or religious
sect of which the applicant is a member.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.18 Religious Sect
• A group of persons or organization professing
a common faith and set of beliefs, and
governed or guided by a common religious
doctrine or creed

2.19 Religion
• A personal set or institutionalized
system of religious, attitudes,
beliefs and practices.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.20 Religious Services
• Gatherings periodically done in a fixed place
for the exercise of religious worship and
manifestation of the member’s faith.
2.21 Religion/Religious Sect Deemed
Operating in the Philippines
• A religion or religious sect is deemed operating in
the Philippines when a great number of Filipinos
profess it, and this fact appears clearly in the latest
census records of the Philippines.

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 AO 1 Series of 2007
In the absence of census records, or in case of doubt, the
founder or head of the religion or religious sect shall declare in
a public instrument the following facts:
a. Brief history of the religion or religious sect;
b. That said religion or religious sect is duly incorporated
for the administration of its temporalities;
c. That the religion or religious sect has at least one
church, temple or chapel which is used actually and
exclusively for religious rites and worship in the
Philippines wherein these churches, temples or chapels
are respectively situated, and the name of the priests,
rabbis, imams or religious ministers assigned to each;
and

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AO 1 Series of 2007

d. That the religion or religious sect

has a congregation of not less than
two hundred bonafide active
members who must all be
residents of the Philippines and
who attend the religious
gatherings and services which said
religion or religious sect holds
periodically in its own church,
temple or chapel.

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 AO 1 Series of 2007

RULE 2
Concepts and Definitions
2.22 Religion/Religious Sect in Good Repute
 When it holds religious services or
gatherings periodically in a fixed place
devoted actually and exclusively for
religious rites and worship, complies with
the requirements of the marriage law and
of these regulations, and that there is
nothing in its teachings, principles and
practices that is contrary to law, moral,
good custom and public policy.

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AO 1 Series of 2007

 When the religion or religious sect does

not appear in the latest census records of
the Philippines, or in case of doubt, the
question of its being in good repute may
be proven by means of a Certification of
the Mayor having jurisdiction over the
place where its church, temple or chapel is
situated, affirming the facts and
circumstances referred to in the first
paragraph. MAYOR

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Duties and
Responsibilities
of PSA Officials

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 Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials

DUTIES of the CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL

a. Keeps and maintains the national database
of solemnizing officers;

b. Issues instructions to the RDs and PSOs with

reference to the implementation of AO No.1
Series of 2007;

c. Conducts a thorough investigation for all

cases of violations related to AO No.1 Series
of 2007;

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 Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials

DUTIES of the CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL

d. Enforces and monitors the implementation of
the Rules and Regulations of AO No.1 Series of
2007;
e. Consolidates monthly reports/data files
submitted by the RDs;
f. Enforces penalty provisions as prescribed by
law;
g. Prescribes fees for registration of SOs. Cashier
ashier
h. Renders decision to appealed cases.

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 Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials

DUTIES of the REGIONAL DIRECTOR

a. Accepts, reviews and evaluates applications for registration
of authority to solemnize marriage from the PSOs;
b. Records data
pertaining to SOs;

c. Signs and issues the

Certificate of Registration of
Authority to Solemnize
Marriage (CRASM);

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 Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials

DUTIES of the REGIONAL DIRECTOR

d. Cancels issued CRASMs as the case
maybe on valid grounds;

e. Investigates applications which cannot be

acted upon by the PSOs when necessary;

f. Recommends to the CRG for resolution

of applications which cannot be acted
upon by the RD;

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 Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials

DUTIES of the REGIONAL DIRECTOR

g. Files, keeps and preserves
records of SOs;

i. Submits reports/updated data files to

CRG on the tenth day after the
reference month

h. Supervises and monitor the activities of

all PSOs under the jurisdiction relative to
the implementation of this Order;

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 Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials

DUTIES of the REGIONAL DIRECTOR

i. Implements security measures

to preserve the integrity of the
CRASM;

j. Performs other functions related to

the implementation of this Order.

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Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials
Duties of the Provincial Statistics Officer (PSO)
a. Ensures the availability of application forms
(OCRG-SO Form No. 1, Revised 2016);

The OCRG-SO Form 1 (application for SOs)

shall be free of charge. It may be reproduced
at the PO.

b. Accepts duly accomplished application forms together

with the supporting documents as enumerated under
Sec. 7.4 of Rule 7;

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Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials
Duties of the Provincial Statistics Officer (PSO)

c. Checks the completeness and

correctness of entries;

d. Evaluates the application and

supporting documents;

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 Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials
Duties of the Provincial Statistics Officer (PSO)
e. In case of doubt, conducts investigation with respect
to the following:
1. Whether the applicant for registration is
performing other religious rites and services
and not merely solemnizing marriage.

2. Whether or not the religious sect to which

the applicant is a member, has a church,
temple or chapel in the province where the
religious rites and services are periodically
conducted.

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 Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials
Duties of the Provincial Statistics Officer (PSO)
e. In case of doubt, conducts investigation with respect
to the following:
3. Whether or not the religion or religious sect to which the
applicant is a member, has a congregation of at least 200
bonafide active member.
f. Endorses application forms and all other
required documents to the Office of the
Regional Director;

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Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials
Duties of the Provincial Statistics Officer (PSO)

g. Submits reports of
investigations conducted;
CASHIER

h. Submits monthly financial report to

the Accounting Division

j. Releases CRASM to the concerned SOs

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Duties and Responsibilities
of PSA Officials
Duties of the Provincial Statistics Officer (PSO)

k. Performs other functions related to the

implementation of this Order.

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 CRS

www.psa.gov.ph