House lawmakers are moving to resolve persistent administrative hurdles and institutional misinterpretations of family law that force married women to drop their maiden names in public and private transactions.
The House Committee on Revision of Laws approved House Bills (HBs) 1648 and 8630 on October 5, 2026, advancing legislative updates to Article 370 of the Civil Code to explicitly protect a married woman’s right to maintain her maiden surname.
Batangas Rep. King Collantes, chairman of the House Committee on Revision of Laws, emphasized that the proposed amendments seek to eliminate deep-seated bureaucratic confusion that leads agencies and institutions to deny valid applications or force unwanted name changes.
“It is the position of the Committee on Revision of Laws that clarifying the ambiguity in Article 370 will help address the discriminatory practices and inconvenience experienced by women due to the misinterpretation or inconsistent application of the said provision by ordinary Filipinos,” Collantes said.
“This includes requiring married women to use their husbands’ surnames in accomplishing official forms, as well as refusing to process otherwise valid transactions when married women use their maiden surnames,” he also said.
Authored by Reps. Ysabel Maria Zamora, John Tracy Cagas, and Cheeno Miguel Almario, the consolidated measures explicitly establish option rights under the law, removing arbitrary requirements imposed during daily dealings.
Collantes noted that the reform serves as a concrete measure to dismantle unnecessary administrative barriers that married women routinely face.
Addressing social media commentary regarding HB 1648, Collantes welcomed public discourse, noting that open dialogue ensures legislative initiatives reflect practical realities.
He pointed out that identical proposals were introduced in both the 18th and 19th Congresses, demonstrating long-standing policy consensus on the need for statutory clarity.
The committee expressed confidence that the measure will pass into law during the 20th Congress.
Collantes assured the public that the House of Representatives remains steadfast in its mandate to legislate laws and to revisit existing ones when necessary, guided by the people’s feedback, lived experiences, and evolving needs.