Amending Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 15 P1:40 SENATE RECEI: ED G1: S.B. No. 626 Introduced by SENATOR WIN GATCHALIAN AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 5 (3) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CITIZENSHIP RETENTION AND RE-ACQUISITION ACT OF 2003" EXPLANATORY NOTE The 1987 Constitution mandates the State to provide quality education relevant to the changing needs of the people and society. The landscape of higher education in the country must continuously evolve to meet the rapid changes brought about by technological advancements, globalization, and the demands of internationalization. Reputable global university ranking agencies place significant emphasis on a university's international reputation as a key performance indicator. For instance, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings! includes "International Outlook" as one of its core metrics, which reflects the proportion of international academic staff on campus. Similarly, the QS World University? Rankings incorporates "Global "https://www.timeshighereducation.com/sites/default/files/breaking_news_files/the_2025 _world universitv_rankings_methodology.pdf 2 https://support.gs.com/hc/en-gb/articles/4403961809554-International-Faculty-Ratio- Indicator

Engagement" indicators, including the ratio of international faculty, to assess a university's global reputation. Increasing the global ranking of public higher education institutions (HEls) in the Philippines through the appointment of foreign faculty will aid to increase the enrollment of international students while improving the world rankings of public HEIs. Due to limited viable economic options in the country, Filipino educators who would have been the pillars of our HEIs seek employment and opportunities abroad. The Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Services (CHED-IAS) conducted a survey on the "Internationalization Scoping for Philippine Higher Education Sector" where it showed that in 2017, the number of outbound faculty is over twice the number of inbound faculty and this scale factor rose to over three times in 2021.3 The passage of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9225, otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003, has provided opportunities for those who have retained and re-acquired their Philippine citizenship to be appointed to any public office, provided that they subscribe and swear to an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and renounce a prior oath of allegiance to another country. While this law has opened doors to many, it poses a restriction for those who are willing to contribute their expertise by being appointed as faculty, researchers, or administrators of public HEIs in the Philippines, as it would require the renunciation of their oath to another country. Such pool of internationally competitive faculty members for our public HEIs is a potential that this amendatory bill seeks to tap - while simultaneously seeking to address the issue of declining inbound faculty, elevating the global ranking of public HEIs, and encouraging natural-born Filipinos who have lost and re-acquired their Philippine citizenship to teach in their field of expertise and contribute to the 3 EDCOM Briefer on Faculty Internationalization and Dual Citizenship, May 28, 2024.

advancement of our public HEIs. It thus proposes to amend Section 5 (3) of R.A. No. 9225 so that those who have retained or re-acquired their Philippine citizenship need not renounce an oath of allegiance to another country for the purpose of being appointed as faculty, researcher, or administrator of a public HEI in the Philippines. To provide transformative education and increase the global competitiveness of our public HEIs, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 15 P1:40 SENATE RECEI ED BY: S.B. No. _ Introduced by SENATOR WIN GATCHALIAN AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 5 (3) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9225, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CITIZENSHIP RETENTION AND RE-ACQUISITION ACT OF 2003" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Section 5 (3) of Republic Act No. 9225 is hereby amended to

read as follows: "SEC. 5. Civil and Political Rights and Liabilities. - Those who retain or re-acquire Philippine citizenship under this Act shall enjoy full civil and political rights and be subject to all attendant liabilities and responsibilities under existing laws of the Philippines and the following conditions: XXX (3) Those appointed to any public office shall subscribe and swear to an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and its duly constituted authorities prior to

their assumption of office: Provided, That they renounce their oath of allegiance to the country where they took that oathl.]: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THOSE APPOINTED AS FACULTY, RESEARCHERS, OR ADMINISTRATORS OF PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS NEED NOT RENOUNCE SUCH OATH OF ALLEGIANCE; xXX"

Sec. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive

orders, letters of instruction, proclamations or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

16 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,