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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
]
25 JUL15 PI :40
SENATE
626
RHCElvED SV;
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”
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 Rankings1 includes “International Outlook” as one of its core 
metrics, which reflects the proportion of international academic staff on 
campus. Similarly, the QS World University2 Rankings incorporates “Global
‘https://WWW.timeshighereducation.com/sites/default/files/breaking news files/the 2025
world university rankings methodologi .pdf
2 https: / /support.as.com/he/en-gb/articles/4403961809554-lntemational-Facultv-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 HEls 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 HEls 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 HEls 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 HEls, 
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 
HEl 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.
;n\gatchali.


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at!':'
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
]
25 JUL 15 PI :40
SENATE
626
Rl'CElw^DBY:
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


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their assumption of office; Provided, That they renounce
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their oath of allegiance to the country where they took that
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oath[.|: 
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THOSE
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APPOINTED AS FACULTY, RESEARCHERS, OR
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ADMINISTRATORS OF PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION
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INSTITUTIONS NEED NOT RENOUNCE SUCH OATH OF
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ALLEGIANCE;
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xxx”
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Sec. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive
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orders, letters of instruction, proclamations or administrative regulations
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that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
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amended accordingly.
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Sec. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,