It’s now easier to ask for corrections in first names and typographical errors under Republic Act No. 9048, which took effect on 22 April 2001. Under this law, the city or municipal civil registrar (or the consul general) may correct a clerical or typographical error in an entry, or change the first name or nickname in the civil register without need of a court order. The law characterizes “clerical or typographical error” as:
xxx a mistake committed in the performance of clerical work in writing, copying, transcribing or typing an entry in the civil register that is harmless and innocuous, such as misspelled name or misspelled place of birth or the like, which is visible to the eyes or obvious to the understanding, and can be corrected or changed only by reference to other existing record or records: Provided, however, That no correction must involve the change of nationality, age, status or sex of the petitioner.
Based on this characterization, there’s a wide discretion in interpreting what constitutes a clerical or typographical error. There’s no definite list and an applicant may show through documents that a particular entry – except nationality, age, status or sex – is erroneous. In one case, the SC noted that the changes sought (surname of the son, the date of the parents’ wedding and the informant’s name) are substantial changes an not merely clerical errors.
Update: Thank you to some who took time to answer some of the questions. Considering that there are unanswered questions and because I don’t have the luxury of time, we shall try to address the issues through the Q&A here. This will be updated from time to time to address new issues. Please go through the questions before posting a query (and please remember that this is a discussion, so feel free to address the issues).
Does this law cover other errors?
Many have errors in the surname, gender (i.e., male or female), birth date, age, nationality (e.g., Filipino), status (single, married) reflected in the entries appearing at the civil registrar. These substantial matters are not covered by this law. Corrections covering these matters require a petition to be filed in court.
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sa case po ng name ko, since birth, elementary, highschool, and college po my name was crishela, but i found out po sa nso copy ko na cristy po ang first name ko, iba po yung name sa birth certificate ko sa municipal at sa nso po,yung kumadrona dw po nagkamali ng sulat ng pngalan ko. kase sa nso record po cristy po nag appear na pngalan same info po ng birth certificate ko sa munisipyo na crishela ang name.
then nung nagka work na po ako, cristy na po ginagamit kong name kase dapat daw po un record sa nso ang gagamitin lahat po philhealth, sss, pag- ibig, company id lhat po ng records ko is cristy na po ginagamit kong first name.pwede pa po ba yun mabago, gusto ko po kase crishela gamitin kong name dahil yung cristy po ay pangalan po ng nanay ko.npapagkamalan po kase ako,wala na po nanay ko.ano po kayang process ang pwedeng gawin dun..?please need ko po ng sagot.thanks and God bless!
and magkano po magagastos po sa pagpalit po ng first name.
gaano po katagal ayusin yun?