Kasalang Bayan Requirements by LGU: Is It Free? (2026)
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Quick answer
Kasalang bayan is a mass civil wedding organized by a city or municipality, usually for its own residents. You apply through the local civil registry with a birth certificate, usually a CENOMAR and a valid ID, and marry at the LGU's ceremony. Each LGU sets its own list, dates and what is free, so confirm with yours.
This page shows what six LGUs require, which 2026 dates and deadlines were published, what is free, who officiates, and what to ask your civil registrar.
Kasalang bayan (literally "wedding of the town") is a mass civil wedding that a city or municipal government organizes, usually through the mayor's office and the Local Civil Registrar (LCR). Several couples marry the same day in one venue. The paperwork underneath is the ordinary marriage license process under the Family Code. What changes is who sets the date, who officiates and, in some LGUs, who pays for the ceremony.
No national list exists, so this page compares what six LGUs published: three Metro Manila cities from a Rappler report of January 24, 2026 (Quezon City, Manila and Caloocan), and three from their own pages: Las Piñas City, the Municipality of Mexico, Pampanga and the Municipality of Hermosa, Bataan (2024 page, 2026 notice). "Not listed" means the source does not mention it, not that it is waived.
How to join, in seven steps
- Ask your LCR or the mayor's office whether a round is planned and when applications close. Dates are set per LGU.
- Check the residency rule. Quezon City's program page is for "QCitizen couples", Manila asked for a valid ID with a Manila address, and Hermosa needs at least one applicant who lives there.
- Gather the documents in the matrix below. Ask for the exact list; it changes between years.
- Apply for the marriage license at the civil registry. Notice of your application is posted for ten consecutive days before the license issues (Family Code Art. 17), and the license is valid for 120 days (Art. 20), so time it to the ceremony date.
- Get the family-planning Certificate of Compliance. RA 10354, Section 15 says "No marriage license shall be issued by the Local Civil Registrar unless the applicants present a Certificate of Compliance issued for free by the local Family Planning Office". So it is required nationwide even where a list, such as Rappler's Metro Manila roundup, does not mention it. Las Piñas, Mexico and Hermosa also list a seminar.
- Get your ceremony slot. In Las Piñas you submit the license to the Mayor's Office, which schedules the wedding.
- Marry with two witnesses. Quezon City's 2026 list asked for one ninong and one ninang. The marriage contract is released after the ceremony; Las Piñas says so on its page.
The requirements, LGU by LGU
Las Piñas is an older post (see the note below the tables). Mexico is the 2026 page. Hermosa is the 2026 notice, with extras from its 2024 page marked (2024).
Metro Manila cities, from the Rappler report (February 2026 round):
| Requirement | Quezon City | Manila | Caloocan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Photocopy | Yes | Original and photocopy |
| CENOMAR | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| Valid ID or residency proof | QCitizen ID photocopy | Valid ID with Manila address | Original and photocopy |
| Cedula | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| 2x2 photos | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Seminar or family-planning certificate | Not listed (required by law) | Not listed (required by law) | Not listed (required by law) |
| Legal capacity certificate (foreign national) | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Parental consent or advice | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Previous spouse's death certificate or annulment or divorce paper | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Other | Marriage license forms from the registry; at least 18; two witnesses | Marriage license; child's birth certificate if applicable; affidavit of cohabitation (see below) | None beyond the above |
Other LGUs, from their own pages:
| Requirement | Las Piñas | Mexico | Hermosa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | Yes | Yes | PSA copy |
| CENOMAR | Yes | PSA copy within 6 months | Yes |
| Valid ID or residency proof | Not listed | Barangay ID or valid ID | Voter's registration or ID (2024) |
| Cedula | Not listed | Not listed | Latest cedula |
| 2x2 photos | Not listed | Not listed | 2 each |
| Seminar or family-planning certificate | Family-planning seminar | Wednesdays, 8:30 AM, Population Office | POPCOM certificate |
| Legal capacity certificate (foreign national) | If a foreign national | Issued by the embassy | Not listed |
| Parental consent or advice | Not listed | By age (see below) | 2024: ages 18 to 24 |
| Previous spouse's death certificate or annulment or divorce paper | Not listed | Not listed | Listed (2024) |
| Other | Marriage license from the Civil Registry | Barangay Indigency, for financial assistance | Age 25 and above; one applicant from Hermosa |
Las Piñas' page is marked as about nine years old, so treat its steps as a pattern, not the current rule.
Our count from these two tables: all six list a birth certificate, five list a CENOMAR and five list a valid ID or proof of residency. The family-planning certificate is a legal requirement for every license, so its "Not listed" cells mean the source omitted it, not that it is waived. Hermosa shows how fast lists change: its 2024 page had a consent, advice or affidavit line for 18 to 24, and its 2026 notice says applicants must be 25 and above.
2026 dates and deadlines we could confirm
Most of these have passed, so read them as a pattern for the next round.
| LGU | Ceremony | Deadline or window | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico, Pampanga | Feb 11, 2026 | Not stated | Municipal page |
| Quezon City | Feb 12 (Districts 1 and 2), Feb 13 (3 and 4), Feb 15 (5 and 6) | Friday, Jan 30 | Rappler, Jan 24, 2026 |
| Manila | Feb 13 | First come, first served | Rappler |
| Caloocan | Feb 14 | Jan 19 to Feb 5 | Rappler |
| Hermosa, Bataan | May 8, 2026 | Apr 17, 2026 | Bataan provincial news, Mar 5, 2026 |
| Cavite (2025, for comparison) | Feb 14, 2025 | Not stated | Dito sa Pilipinas |
Rappler says these events are usually held on special occasions such as Valentine's Day or in February. Hermosa held its 2024 ceremony on May 8 with an April 15 deadline, so Valentine's Day is a habit, not a rule. For Cavite's February 14, 2025 round, the report counts 1,336 couples from various municipalities and also mentions a separate 60-couple ceremony by a church chapter.
Our advice: Quezon City's deadline was January 30 and Caloocan accepted requirements until February 5 for February weddings, while Manila filled slots first come, first served with no deadline listed. The Rappler report ran on January 24. If you want a February 2027 slot, ask your LCR in December rather than waiting for a public announcement.
Is it really free?
The pages disagree, so do not assume.
| LGU | What the source says | What it charges |
|---|---|---|
| Quezon City | Rappler: a free Kasalang Bayan. The city page: a formal ceremony officiated by the mayor, plus cake and "simple presents" | Not stated |
| Las Piñas | Couples spend nothing; rings, arras (the wedding coins) and merienda are free | Not stated |
| Mexico, Pampanga | Not stated as free | A Barangay Indigency certificate is offered "for financial assistance" |
| Hermosa, Bataan | Not stated as free | 2024 page: PHP 150.00 for the marriage license |
| Caloocan | Rappler: "its free mass wedding" | Not itemized |
| Manila | Rappler's roundup is about free weddings in Metro Manila, but its Manila entry has no cost line | Not stated |
The Family Code adds a separate rule. Article 19 says the license "shall, however, be issued free of charge to indigent parties", meaning "those who have no visible means of income or whose income is insufficient for their subsistence", shown by affidavit or by oath before the local civil registrar. That is likely why Mexico asks for a Barangay Indigency certificate, though its page does not say so. Ask which fees the LGU actually waives: license, ceremony, certificate copies, or all three.
Age rules: only some LGUs spell them out
The Family Code sets two documents by age. Article 14 requires written consent from a parent or guardian for a party "between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one". Article 15 requires a party "between the age of twenty-one and twenty-five" to ask their parents or guardian for advice, and if the advice is missing or unfavorable the license waits until three months after publication of the application is completed. Where consent or advice is needed, Article 16 also asks for a marriage counselling certificate.
| Age | Family Code | Mexico's page | Hermosa |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 to 20 | Consent (Art. 14 says "between eighteen and twenty-one") | Consent of parents; father's signature and appearance | 2024: one consent, advice or affidavit line for 18 to 24. 2026: applicants must be 25 and above |
| 21 to 25 | Advice (Art. 15) | Advice of parents; both parents' signatures and appearance | Same as above |
Quezon City, Manila, Caloocan and Las Piñas do not mention consent or advice. That does not lift the rule, because Articles 14 and 15 govern every license nationwide. The full statutory list is in our marriage license requirements checklist.
Live-in couples and the five-year rule
Quezon City's program page says the program is for couples who want to legalize their union, "including couples who are already living together but are unable to hold a ceremony". Manila's 2026 list asked for an affidavit of cohabitation from couples aged 23 and above who had lived together for at least five years and had a child, per Rappler.
That connects to Article 34 of the Family Code: no license is needed for a man and a woman "who have lived together as husband and wife for at least five years and without any legal impediment to marry each other". They state the facts in an affidavit, and the solemnizing officer states under oath that no impediment was found. None of the pages says how an LGU applies it beyond Manila's line, so ask your LCR before you plan around it.
Who officiates
Quezon City says the mayor officiates. A mayor's authority does not come from Article 7 of the Family Code; it comes from the Local Government Code (RA 7160). Section 444(b)(1)(xviii) gives municipal mayors the power to "Solemnize marriages, any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding", and Section 455(b)(1)(xviii) gives city mayors the same power. Our wedding officiant guide covers all the officers.
The mayor is not always the one at the microphone. At Dasmariñas in 2025, the report says a Church of God bishop officiated while the mayor served as principal sponsor. Ask who officiates in your LGU rather than assuming.
Kasalang bayan, private civil wedding or church wedding
| Kasalang bayan | Private civil wedding | Church wedding | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Set by the LGU | You and the officiant | You and the parish calendar |
| Officiant | Usually the mayor, or someone the LGU arranges | A judge or a mayor | A priest, minister, rabbi or imam |
| Venue | The LGU's venue, with other couples | A judge's chambers or open court, or another place you both request in writing (Art. 8) | Church |
| Cost | Some LGUs cover the ceremony; the license fee may still apply | Your own venue, officiant and extras; see what a wedding costs | Parish fees plus requirements |
| Church later? | Possible; see civil wedding then church wedding | Same | Not applicable |
A message to send your civil registry
Copy this into a text or Messenger message and fill in the brackets. One question per line.
Good day. We are a couple from [barangay or city] who would like to join your next Kasalang Bayan.
When is the next ceremony, and when do applications close?
Which documents do you need from each of us, and is a CENOMAR required?
Where and when is the family-planning seminar held?
Is the ceremony free? Are the license fee and copies of the marriage certificate included?
Who will officiate, and how many witnesses should we bring?
Thank you.
After the ceremony
A kasalang bayan marriage is a legally solemnized marriage, so the usual clock starts. The officer must send the marriage certificate to the local civil registrar within 15 days (Family Code Art. 23), and your PSA marriage certificate follows on its own schedule.
Because the LGU sets the date, family may hear about it late. Our advice: once your slot is confirmed, send a short digital invitation with the date, time and hall, and ask guests to arrive early since several couples marry in one session. Confirm with the registry how many guests each couple may bring before you invite anyone.
Frequently asked questions
Is kasalang bayan really free?
Some LGUs say so directly. Las Piñas says couples spend nothing, and Rappler called Quezon City's 2026 event free. Hermosa's 2024 page lists a PHP 150 marriage license fee, and Mexico, Pampanga does not state a price. Under Article 19 of the Family Code the license is free for indigent parties who prove it by affidavit.
What are the requirements for kasalang bayan?
Across the six LGUs compared here, all six list a birth certificate, five list a CENOMAR and five list a valid ID or proof of residency. The family-planning Certificate of Compliance is required for every license under RA 10354, even where a list omits it. Mexico adds parental consent or advice by age, as did Hermosa's 2024 page; its 2026 notice says applicants must be 25 and above. Ask the civil registry.
When is kasalang bayan held?
Each LGU picks its own date. In 2026, Mexico, Pampanga scheduled February 11, Quezon City February 12, 13 and 15, Manila February 13, Caloocan February 14 and Hermosa May 8. Deadlines came weeks earlier, so ask your civil registry well before the month you want.
Who officiates a kasalang bayan?
Quezon City's page says the city mayor officiates. Under the Local Government Code, city and municipal mayors may solemnize marriages. The LGU can also arrange someone else: at Dasmariñas in 2025 a Church of God bishop officiated with the mayor as principal sponsor.
Can live-in couples join a kasalang bayan?
Often yes. Quezon City's page names couples already living together, and Manila asked for an affidavit of cohabitation from couples living together for at least five years with a child. Article 34 waives the license after five years of cohabitation with no legal impediment, so ask whether your LGU applies it.
Can a foreigner join a kasalang bayan?
Two of the six LGUs list it. Las Piñas asks for a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage if one of you is a foreign national, and Mexico asks for one issued by the embassy. Article 21 of the Family Code requires that certificate before a license can be issued.
Do we still need a marriage license for a kasalang bayan?
Yes, unless you qualify for an exemption such as Article 34. The LGU pages send you to the civil registry for the license, and Hermosa says it issues the license only after ten days from a complete application. A license stays valid for 120 days.