A lawyer has welcomed the Supreme Court’s (SC) approval of new rules on electronic notarization that would allow documents to be notarized anywhere in the country.

Attorney Roland Collado of Cagayan de Oro City told DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview the new rules had long been sought by lawyers practicing notarization.

“We extend our thanks and gratitude to the Supreme Court for the approval of the new rules. This will definitely extend the coverage of our notarization,” Collado said.

Prior to this, lawyers based in Cagayan de Oro were limited to providing notarial services within Misamis Oriental, from El Salvador City to Kinoguitan, Collado explained.

The SC’s new rules also allow electronic notarization in certain cases, including for documents notarized abroad by accredited electronic notaries public (ENP).

Notarization converts a private document into a public document, making it admissible as evidence without further proof of its authenticity and due execution.

“Clearly, the new rules have expanded the jurisdiction of traditional notaries public to cover areas even outside our territorial jurisdiction,” he added.

Before the SC’s approval of the new rules, lawyers commissioned as notaries public could only notarize documents executed by parties within their specific jurisdictions.

“We will just have to wait for the accredited ENPs, as specified by the SC on electronic notarization, so we can provide our services across the country and abroad,” Collado said.

The Office of the Electronic Notary Administrator (ENA) will handle the commissioning of ENPs and the accreditation of electronic notarization facilities (ENFs), while a central notarial database will be set up as a repository for electronically notarized documents, Collado explained, citing SC-released information.

Collado said the expanded jurisdiction will ensure greater accessibility, particularly for clients in remote and underserved areas.

The new rules are provided under Administrative Matter 24-10-14-SC, which was published on 9 March and will take effect 15 days after publication, or on 24 March.