Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003 
mandates that Filipinos who have acquired citizenship in other countries shall retain their 
Philippine citizenship subject to certain conditions.  Section 5 of the law provides for the civil 
and political rights, responsibilities and liabilities of persons who will retain or re-acquire 
Philippine citizenship. Sub-section (3) of Section 5 provides, “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 oath.” 
This bill seeks to amend the said provision to accommodate qualified Filipino 
professionals with dual citizenship to be appointed as an administrator, faculty or researcher in 
our public higher education institutions (HEIs) either on a full time or part time basis. 
At present, our public HEIs are in need of highly qualified professionals to be part of 
their academic and administrative personnel that would further boost their capability and human 
resource to deliver quality tertiary education. There are many Filipino professors and 
professionals who have acquired citizenship in other countries who are willing to be appointed 
and be part of our public HEIs but such action is prohibited under the present law on citizenship. 
In a consultation meeting conducted by the Second Congressional Commission on 
Education (EDCOM II), Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) 
President Dr. Tirso Ronquillo expressed that there is a need to hire and engage more faculty 
experts, researchers, and even administrators in public HEIs in the country. He noted that there 
are inadequate human resources in science-technology-innovation (STI), and research and 
development (R&D).  
April 11, 2024
2:18 pm
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One potential source of increasing human resources in our public HEIs is the naturalized 
Filipinos in other countries who have re-acquired their citizenship by virtue of R.A. 9225. Many 
natural-born Filipino scientists, engineers, and researchers who are dual citizens are willing to be 
appointed in the government but reluctant to renounce their oath of allegiance to the country 
where they took that oath for one reason or another. Should this requirement of law be amended, 
many dual citizens will be enticed to work for the government. Their knowledge and expertise 
when used and applied in the Philippines will definitely help address the critical challenges in 
advancing excellent education, research, and innovation.   
This proposed measure seeks to provide our public HEIs a wider elbow room to search 
for and hire the best applicants who possesses the skills and qualifications needed for their 
institutions.  
 In view of the foregoing, immediate consideration and passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
        MARK O. GO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go 
AN ACT 
 ALLOWING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF FACULTY, RESEARCHERS, AND 
ADMINISTRATORS WITH DUAL CITIZENSHIP IN PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION 
INSTITUTIONS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 5 (3) OF REPUBLIC ACT 
9225, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CITIZENSHIP RETENTION AND RE-
ACQUISITION ACT OF 2003 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Section 5 (3) of Republic Act No. 9225 or the “Citizenship Retention and 
Re-acquisition Act of 2003” shall be amended as follows: 
SECTION 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         XXX        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, EXCEPT FOR THOSE APPOINTED
AS FACULTY, RESEARCHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS OF PUBLIC
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS,  they renounce their oath of allegiance
to the country where they took that oath;
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Sec. 2.  If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or 
invalid, the other provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full 
force and effect. 
 
Sec. 3. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are 
inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 4.  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,