The Philippine Statistics Authority headquarters is seen in Quezon City on February 6, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA – Encountering errors on birth certificates can be both frustrating and stressful, often causing conflicts, especially when dealing with important transactions.

Fortunately, Filipinos who seek to correct minor errors in the entry of their name, gender, or date of birth no longer need to go through a lengthy and complicated process.

As per the website of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), this process of administrative correction on erroneous civil registry entries can now be done without requiring a court-issued judicial order through Republic Act No. 9048 at RA 10172.

These laws authorize the City or Municipal Civil Registrar or the Consul General to administratively correct clerical or typographical errors on birth certificates—such as misspelled names, mistaken sex/gender, or incorrect birth day and month—and to allow the change of first name or nickname under specific grounds.

BASAHIN: Paano maiwawasto ang maling detalye sa birth certificate?

Filing petition 

According to PSA, applicants or petitioners who wish to correct erroneous details must file a "petition for administrative correction" at the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) where their birth certificate is registered.

Meanwhile, a "migrant petition" shall be filed by applicants who no longer reside in their place of birth. Those who were born abroad may also file their petition to the Philippine Consulate Office where the birth is reported.

Such a petition for the correction of typographical errors under RA 9048 and RA 10172 must be in an affidavit and supported by necessary documents verifying the correct entry of the applicant's information, including the following:

• Certified machine copy of birth certificate (NSO and Local copy)

• At least two (2) copies of public or private documents indicating the correct entry of information (baptismal certificate, voter’s affidavit, employment record, GSIS/SSS record, school record,  business record, driver’s license, insurance, land titles, NBI/Police clearance, civil registry records of ascendants, etc.)

• For those who have incorrect information on sex/gender:

- Medical certificate from an accredited government certifying that the petitioner has not undergone sex change

• For those who have incorrect information on sex/gender and birth date:

- Affidavit of publication from the publisher and its newspaper clippings

Moreover, PSA also stated that a petition to change the applicant’s first name or nickname may be filed in cases that it is ridiculous, tainted with dishonor, or difficult to write or pronounce. The petitioner's commonly used and habitually adopted name in public may also serve as a replacement for their name.

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A processing fee of P1,000 is required for clerical error corrections under RA 9048, while a fee of P3,000 applies for changes in first name and nickname, sex, and date of birth entries.

Meanwhile, at least $50 processing fee is needed for those filing through the Consul General, while there will be a P500 to P1,000 charge for migrant petitioners.

For more information and detailed guidelines, you may visit the official website of PSA.