The tedious and costly procedure in correcting typographical or clerical errors in an entry in the Civil Registry will now be a thing of the past following the passage of Clerical Error Bill which was signed into law recently by President Arroyo.

Principally authored by Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo, Republic Act No. 9048 otherwise known as Clerical Error Law was described as a pro-poor piece of legislation which will no longer require the need of a judicial order to correct a typographical error in an entry.

Gunigundo, in a statement, said he was so elated by its passage "because this will certainly declog court dockets and will give judges and litigators ample time to concentrate in litigating more serious cases."

"I am proud to have contributed so much to our people for their own welfare," Gunigundo, who is seeking a second term under the banner of the People Power Coalition, said.

"May this humble contribution be of great help to ease the burden of our people's plight," he said.

The Gunigundo law was a welcome breather to all citizens who are unduly burdened by the tedious and costly procedure in correcting wrong spelling or any clerical errors from their birth, marriage and death certificates.

Gunigundo hailed the effort of Senators Loren Legarda and Renato Cayetano for sponsoring a Senate version of the measure.

He (Gunigundo) was likewise lauded by the officers of an organization called the Civil Registrars of the Philippines for his coming out with such a vital law.