SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
2956 
'1'5 
SEP 17 All :31 
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV 
AN ACT GRANTING PERMANENT RESIDENCY TO QUALIFIED RELIGIOUS WORKERS AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 9 AND 13 OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 613, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1940 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Explanatory Note 
Foreign religious workers and missionaries have played an important role not only in the 
faith life of Filipino communities, but also in promoting the welfare of the poor through 
outreach work and social missions. They have sacrificed and left the comfort of their homes to 
live away from their families without expecting or asking for anything in return. They have 
chosen not just to share their talents and skills but also to live the rest of their lives serving the 
Filipino people. We are honored to have them in our country. 
This bill seeks to amend Commonwealth Act No. 613, otherwise known as the Philippine 
Immigration Act of 1940. It is our intent to relieve foreign religious workers of the burdensome 
requirements and procedures for staying in the country and performing their chosen vocation 
here for the benefit of our communities. This bill seeks to assist the many religious workers who 
have already dedicated long years of their lives to their missionary work and vocation in the 
country. 
This measure is also part of the proposed reforms to update our antiquated immi'gration 
law to better address the changing needs and demands of the Philippines, as a member of an 
increasingly globalized and interconnected international community. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
I 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
I 
Third Regular Session 
I 
'I'; 
SEP 17 All :]1 
SENA~ () r:: r:: 
S B N 
". eJ cJ t:; 
.• 0. ___ 
_ 
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV 
AN ACT GRANTING PERMANENT RESIDENCY TO QUALIFIED RELIGIOUS WORKERS AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 9 AND 13 OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 613, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1940 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
1 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House af Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
2 
assembled: 
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Permanent Residency for Qualified 
4 
Religious Workers". 
5 
SECTION 2. Section 9 of Commonwealth Act No. 613 or the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 
6 
is hereby amended by inserting the following provision after Subsection (f) to read as follows: 
7 
"Section 9. Aliens departing from any place outside the Philippines, who are otherwise 
8 
admissible and who qualify within one of the following categories, may be admitted as 
9 
nonimmigrants: 
10 
xxx 
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(g) Prearranged employment. - An alien coming to prearranged employment for whom 
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the issuance of a visa has been authorized in accordance with section twenty of this Act, and his 
13 
wife, and his unmarried children under twenty-one years of age, if accompanying him or if 
14 
following to jOin him within a period of six months from the date of his admission into the 
15 
Philippines as a nonimmigrant under this paragraph. An alien who is admitted as a 
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nonimmigrant cannot remain in the Philippines permanently. To obtain permanent admission, a 
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nonimmigrant alien must depart voluntarily to some foreign country and procure from the 
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appropriate Philippine consul the proper visa and thereafter undergo examination by the 
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officers of the Bureau of Immigration at a Philippine port of entry for determination of his 
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admissibility in accordance with the requirements[.]; AND 
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(HI RELIGIOUS WORKERS - DULY ORDAINED OR PROFESSIONAL MISSIONARIES AND 
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RElIGIOUS MINISTERS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMilY, WHO SEEK TO ENTER THE 
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PHILIPPINES TO JOIN A RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION OR DENOMINATION DULY REGISTERED 
. 24 
WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, UPON INVITATION, SPONSORSHIP OR 
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GUARANTEE OF SUCH RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION OR DENOMINATION, SOLELY FOR THE 
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PURPOSE OF PROPAGATING, TEACHING AND DISSEMINATING THEIR FAITH OR RELIGION." 
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SECTION 3. Section 13 of Commonwealth Act No. 613 or the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 
28 
is hereby amended by inserting the following provision after Subsection (f) to read as follows: 
29 
XXX 


1 
(f) A natural-born citizen of the Philippines, who has been naturalized in a foreign 
2 
country, and is returning to the Philippines for permanent residence, including his spouse and 
3 
minor unmarried children, shall be considered a non-quota immigrant for purposes of entering 
4 
the Philippines!.]; AND 
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(G) 
RELIGIOUS 
WORKERS 
WHO 
HAVE 
FULFILLED 
RESIDENCY 
AND 
OTHER 
6 
REQUIREMENTS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ). 
7 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is subsequently declared invalid or 
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unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain in full 
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force and effect. 
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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other 
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issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
12 
modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
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Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,