Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1199

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative JUAN MIGUEL MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT AMENDING COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 473, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “REVISED NATURALIZATION LAW” AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 530,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT MAKING ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
FOR NATURALIZATION”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Commonwealth Act (C.A.) No. 473 and Republic Act (R. A.) No. 530,
provide restrictions and additional provisions, respectively, for the qualifications
of a person desiring to acquire Philippine citizenship by naturalization

Section 7 of C. A. No. 473 requires, among others that, in the Petition for
Naturalization, the applicant must state therein that he will reside continuously in
the Philippines from the date of the filing of the petition up to the time of his
admission to Philippine citizenship. Section 1 (1) of Republic Act No. 530, on the
other hand, states that, following the grant of the petition, the applicant (1) must
not leave the Philippines, (2) must dedicate himself continuously to a lawful
calling or profession, (3) must not be convicted of any offense or violation of
Government promulgated rules and (4) must not commit any act prejudicial to the
interest of the nation or contrary to any Government announced policies.
Furthermore, the cited provision states that the decision granting the application
will not be executory until after two years from its promulgation and upon
satisfaction, subject to a proper hearing, of the above mentioned conditions. The
rationale behind this provision is, the state, in protecting its interest, desires to
put the applicant into an actual test to assess his fitness in becoming a citizen of
the Philippines. This condition, however, is too restrictive and an over imposition
especially to those who have already stayed continuously in the country for a
period of thirty (30) years or more following the filing of their application. These
applicants have already demonstrated their allegiance to the Republic of the
Philippines and should not anymore be covered by the provisions stated above.
Just like Section 6 of C. A. 473, which exempts an applicant from filing his
Declaration of Intention to become a bonafide citizen of the Philippines if he
already stayed continuously in the country for a period of thirty (30) years or
more prior to the filing of his petition, Section 7 of C. A. No. 473 and Section 1 (1)
of R. A. 530 should also apply the same exemption.

In order therefore to serve the higher interest of the public and the state,
as well as the interest of the applicant, and recognizing the valuable contribution
of these applicants to the national economy especially those with significant
investments in the country, C. A. 473, Section 7 and R. A. 530, Section 1 (1)


should be amended. This, notwithstanding, will not in any way defeat the intent,
spirit and purpose of the law, but instead, it will serve the true objective of the
law.

It is on the basis of the foregoing considerations that the approval of this
bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1199

Introduced by Representative JUAN MIGUEL MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT AMENDING COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 473, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “REVISED NATURALIZATION LAW” AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 530,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT MAKING ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
FOR NATURALIZATION”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 7 of Commonwealth Act No. 473 is hereby amended
to read as follows:

Section 7. Petition for citizenship.- Any person desiring to acquire
Philippine citizenship shall file with the competent court, a petition in
triplicate, accompanied by two photographs of the petitioner, setting forth
his name and surname; his present and former places of residence; his
occupation; the place and date of his birth; whether single or married and
the father of children, the name, age, birthplace and residence of the wife
and of each of the children; the approximate date of his or her arrival in
the Philippines, the name of the port of debarkation, and, if he remembers
it, the name of the ship on which he came; a declaration that he has the
qualifications required by this Act, specifying the same, and that he is not
disqualified for naturalization under the provisions of this Act; that he has
complied with the requirements of section five of this Act; and that he will
reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of the
petition up to the time of his admission to Philippine citizenship. The
petition must be signed by the applicant in his own handwriting and be
‘supported by the affidavit of at least two credible persons, stating that they
are citizens of the Philippines and personally know the petitioner to be a
resident of the Philippines for the period of time required by this Act and a
person of good repute and morally irreproachable, and that said petitioner
has in their opinion all the qualifications necessary to become a citizen of
the Philippines and is not in any way disqualified under the provisions of
this Act. The petition shall also set forth the names and post-office
addresses of such witnesses as the petitioner may desire to introduce at
the hearing of the case. The certificate of arrival, and the declaration of
intention must be made part of the petition.

Section 7.1. Any applicant who has resided continuously in_the
Philippines for a period of thirty (30) or more prior to the filin:
Of his petition is not constrained from leaving the Philippines while
his petition is pending in court, and therefore, is not required to state



in_his petition the phrase “that _he will reside continuously in the
Philippines from the date of the filing of the petition up to the time of
his admission to Philippine citizenship.

SECTION 2. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 530 is hereby amended as well
to read as follows:

Section 1. The provisions of existing laws notwithstanding, no petition for
Philippine citizenship shall be heard by the courts until after six months
from the publication of the application required by law, nor shall any
decision granting the application become executory until after two years
from its promulgation and after the court, on proper hearing, with the
attendance of the Solicitor General or his representative, is satisfied, and
so finds, that during the intervening time the applicant has (1) not left the
Philippines, (2) has dedicated himself continuously to a lawful calling or
profession, (3) has not been convicted of any offense or violation of
Government promulgated rules, (4) or committed any act prejudicial to the
interest of the nation or contrary to any Government announced policies.
Provided, That, any applicant who has resided continuously in the
country for a period of thirty years (30) or more before filing his
petition, is exempt from all the four (4) conditions as stated above.
Provided Further, That, the decision granting the application is
immediately executory upon finality thereof and that he be allowed to
apply for Philippine passport instantaneously.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations, and all other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly

SECTION 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers
of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,