The Philippine Statistics Authority Benguet Provincial Statistical Office (PSA-Benguet) informs the various religion and religious sects to remind their ministers whose Certificate of Authority to Solemnize Marriage (CRASM) License last December 31, 2024, and were not able to file for renewal.  This information is a reminder to file as soon as possible and not to wait for their members to ask for solemnization and file for the said renewal.  Renewal of the authority to solemnize marriage is filed and accepted at the PSA field office where the minister’s church assignment is located, therefore, this call is for solemnizing officers assigned within the Province of Benguet.  In addition, the prevailing guidelines in the application for the Certificate of Registration of Authority to Solemnize Marriage (CRASM) is Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2021 (2021 CRASM Rules) which has been in effect since February 15, 2022 after being published in the Official Gazette for fifteen (15) days. The said 2021 CRASM Rules is accompanied by Memorandum Circular No. 2022-10 for the requirements and screening procedures.  Under the same rules, the prevailing form is OCRG SO Form No. 1 Revised April 2022. As stated in Executive Order No. 209 or The Family Code of the Philippines, under Article No. 3, (1) Authority of the solemnizing officer is one of the formal requisites of marriage. Article No. 4 further states that “The absence of any of the essential or formal requisites renders the marriage void ab initio, except those stated in Article 35(2)”, this is also a reminder for contracting parties should practice due diligence to check the authority of their solemnizing officer.  The office further informs the public that solemnizing officers are also bound by their territorial jurisdiction as stated in their CRASM license and at least one of the contracting parties belongs to the solemnizing officers’ religion or religious sect as stated in Article No. 7 of the Family Code of the Philippines.

The validity period of the CRASM license is based on Republic Act No. 6514, “An act that the authorization to solemnize marriage issued to priests, or ministers or rabbis shall be valid for a period of three years the same to expire on the thirty-first of December of every third year, amending for the purpose Article 95 of the Civil Code of the Philippines and for other purpose.”.   

IMELDA L. BUYUCCAN (SGD)

Chief Statistical Specialist                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

/TCA