Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Reform

senate Offier of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) ) APR -7 P1:06 First Regular Session SENATE 2025 RECEIVED BY: S.B. No. - Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CITIZENSHIP RETENTION AND RE-ACQUISITION ACT OF 2003," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Republic Act No. 9225, or the "Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003," allows natural-born Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship to re- acquire or retain their Philippine citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance. However, the present law does not expressly provide that children who are already eighteen (18) years of age or older, or who are married, and who were born to former Filipino citizens who subsequently re-acquire Philippine citizenship, shall likewise be recognized as Filipino citizens. This stands in contrast to minor children, whose status is expressly acknowledged under the law. As a result, a significant gap remains, creating practical difficulties for the children of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and other Filipinos who later naturalized abroad, as they may still face procedural obstacles in securing recognition of their Filipino citizenship. The proposed measure therefore seeks to amend Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9225 to clarify and expand the scope of derivative Philippine citizenship. In particular, it extends such recognition to children born to former Filipino citizens who lost their Philippine citizenship by reason of naturalization in a foreign country but who subsequently re-acquired the same under Republic Act No. 9225, even if such children are already eighteen (18) years of age or older or are married, subject only to the taking of an oath of allegiance. This amendment ensures that the right to Philippine citizenship by descent is fully protected, especially for children of Filipinos abroad, without requiring undue procedural hurdles. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought. Force h. Marca AIMÉE R. MARCOS

Sentate Difice of the Sccretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 26 APR -7 P1:06 First Regular Session SENATE S.B. No. 2025 RECEIVED BY: Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CITIZENSHIP RETENTION AND RE-ACQUISITION ACT OF 2003," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9225, or the "Citizenship Retention

and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003" ", is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 4. Derivative Citizenship. - The [unmarried] child, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted, below eighteen (18) years of age, of those who re-acquire Philippine citizenship upon effectivity of this Act shall be deemed citizens of the Philippines PROVIDED, THAT IF THE CHILD IS ALREADY EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE OR IS MARRIED, HE OR SHE SHALL TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE PRESCRIBED IN SECTION 3 OF THIS ACT."

Sec. 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is declared

unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or

parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,