Abstract

Recording of vital events, such as birth, marriage and death, is crucial in the availment of fundamental rights. Civil Registration has played a significant role in nation-building considering that determination of identity, status and citizenship is imbued with national interest. This also trickles down to the personal level as government services are anchored on the acceptable legal proof of the said vital events. In recent years, relying parties have become cautious on incorrect entries in civil registry documents. Prior to the passage of Republic Act No. 9048 as amended by Republic Act No. 10172 or the Administrative Correction of Clerical Error in Civil Registry Documents Law in 2001, correction of entries whether simple or substantial needs to undergo judicial process. With RA 9048 and RA 10172, it is envisioned that simple or clerical corrections which are innocuous or harmless can be expediently processed through administrative proceedings. In recent years, it was observed that the number of petitions for administrative correction of clerical error has not declined year-on-year saved for the year covered by the onslaught of COVID-19 in 2020 – 2021, despite the establishment of this process in 2001. It is also observed that the petitions that were filed from 2018 to 2022 were vital events registered mostly from years 1991 – 2000 and 1961 – 1969. This study focuses on the quality of civil registration by taking into account the errors committed during the preparation of civil registry documents and several factors that contribute in the inaccuracy of the entries in the civil registry document. The results show that the highest number of petitions filed were related to Change of First Name (CFN). This type is not categorically a clerical error. Based on this study, there is also indication that correction of clerical error or change of first name has higher incidence in Highly Urbanized City (HUC) relative to the concentration of population or increase in income in the said area.