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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sotto seeks to allow children's use of mother's surname

Sotto seeks to allow children's use of mother's surname

Published Jun 11, 2021 02:18 pm

Senate President Vicente Sotto III is seeking to legislate the right of legitimate children to use their mother's surnames.

Sotto recently filed a bill that would amend and clarify sections of the country's Family Code and Civil Code.

The Family Code of the Philippines states that legitimate children have the right to bear the surnames of the father and the mother, in accordance with the Civil Code.

The Civil Code, however, states that legitimate and legitimated children shall use their father's surnames.

On the other hand, the Family Code was explicit that illegitimate chidren must use the mother's surname.

"The wordings of Article 174 (1) of the Family Code and Article 364 of the Civil Code seem to have ambiguity as to whether or not a legitimate child, at the outset, can already use the surname of the mother upon agreement of the parents or must still require a court order," Sotto explained in filing Senate Bill No. 2261.

"The mother is the initial life-bearer of a child. The legitimate child's developing physical and biolo^cal link was with the mother, as physiologically evidenced by the umbilical cord. Not only that, the nurturing and child-rearing starts with the mother," he stressed.

"Accordingly, if most of the biological, physiological, nurturing, and emotional content of the creation of the child is with the mother, in case of conflict between the latter and the father, the mother's decision should have influence and weight," he added.

SB 2261 amends the Art. 364 of the Civil Code to allow children to principally use the surname of their mother.

Parents will be allowed to agree on which surname the child would use and appear in the birth certificate.

"In case of disagreement, the surname of the mother shall be used by the legitimate children," the measure read.

Further, children would also be granted the right to change their surname to the surname of either their mother or father "within 10 years from reaching the age majority".

If the 10-year period had lapsed, the legitimate children shall have recourse to the proper courts.

Related Tags

surname family code civil code Tito Sotto Senate
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