BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 185 AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT SECTION FIFTEEN OF ARTICLE XIV OF THE CONSTITUTION AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES. Section 1. In implementation of Section fifteen of Article XIV of the Constitution, a natural-born citizen of the Philippines who has lost his Philippine citizenship may be a transferee of private land, for use by him as his residence, subject to the provisions of this Act. Section 2. Any natural-born citizen of the Philippines who has lost his Philippine citizenship and who has the legal capacity to enter into a contract under Philippine laws may be a transferee of a private land up to a maximum area of one thousand square meters, in the case of urban land, or one hectare in the case of rural land, to be used by him as his residence. In the case of married couples, one of them may avail of the privilege herein granted; Provided, That if both shall avail of the same, the total area acquired shall not exceed the maximum herein fixed. In case the transferee already owns urban or rural lands for residential purposes, he shall still be entitled to be a transferee of additional urban or rural lands for residential purposes which, when added to those already owned by him, shall not exceed the maximum areas herein authorized. Section 3. A transferee under this Act may acquire not more than two lots which should be situated in different municipalities or cities anywhere in the Philippines; Provided, That the total area thereof shall not exceed one thousand square meters in the case of urban lands or one hectare in the case of rural lands for use by him as urban land shall be disqualified from acquiring rural land, and vice versa. Section 4. As used in this Act - (a) A natural-born citizen is one who is a citizen of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect his Philippine citizenship. (b) Urban areas shall include: (1) In their entirety, all municipal jurisdictions which, whether designated as chartered cities, provincial capitals or not, have a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square kilometer;

(2) Poblaciones or central districts of municipalities and cities which have a population density of at least 500 persons per square kilometer; (3) Poblaciones or central districts (not included in 1 and 2) regardless of population size which have the following: (a) Street pattern, i.e., network of streets in either at parallel or right angle orientation; (b) At least six establishments (commercial, manufacturing, recreational and/or personal services); and (c) At least three of the following: 1. A town hall, church or chapel with religious services at least once a month; 2. A public plaza, park or cemetery; 3. A market place or building where trading activities are carried on at least once a week; and 4. A public building like a school, hospital, puericulture and health center or library. (4) Barangays having at least 1,000 inhabitants which meet the conditions set forth in subparagraph (3) of paragraph (b) above, and in which the occupation of the inhabitants is predominantly other than farming or fishing. (5) All other areas of the Philippines which do not meet the conditions in the preceding definition of urban areas shall be considered as rural areas. Section 5. Transfer as a mode of acquisition of private land under this Act refers to either voluntary or involuntary sale, devise or donation. Involuntary sales shall include sales on tax delinquency, foreclosures and executions of judgment. Section 6. In addition to the requirements provided for in other laws for the registration of titles to lands, no private land shall be transferred under this Act, unless the transferee shall submit to the register of deeds of the province or city where the property is located a sworn statement showing the date and place of his birth; the names and addresses of his parents, of his spouse and children, if any; the area, the location and the mode of acquisition of his land-holdings in the Philippines, if any; his intention to reside permanently in the Philippines; the date he lost his Philippine citizenship and the country of which he is presently a citizen; and such other information as may be required Section 8 of this Act. Section 7. The transferee shall not use the lands acquired under this Act for any purpose other than for his residence. Violations of this Section, any misrepresentation in the sworn

statement required under Section 6 hereof, any acquisition through fraudulent means or failure to reside permanently in the land acquired within two years from the acquisition thereof, except when such failure is caused by force majeure, shall, in addition to any liability under the Revised Penal Code and deportation in appropriate cases, be penalized by forfeiture of such lands and their improvements to the National Government. For this purpose the Solicitor General or his representative shall institute escheat proceedings. Any transferee liable under this Section shall moreover be forever barred from further availing of the privilege granted under this Act. Section 8. The Minister of Justice shall issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Such rules and regulations shall take effect fifteen days following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. Section 9. If any part of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not thereby affected shall remain in full force and effect. Section 10. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Approved: March 16, 1982

Republic Act No. 8179 AN ACT TO FURTHER LIBERALIZE FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7042, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Section 3, paragraph (a), of Republic Act No. 7042, otherwise known as the Foreign Investments Act of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: Section 3. Definitions. As used in this Act: [a] the term Philippine national shall mean a citizen of the Philippines, or a domestic partnership or association wholly owned by citizens of the Philippines; or a corporation organized under the laws of the Philippines of which at least sixty percent [60%] of the capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote is owned and held by citizens of the Philippines; or a corporation organized abroad and registered as doing business in the Philippines under the Corporation Code of which one hundred percent [100%] of the capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote is wholly owned by Filipinos or a trustee of funds for pension or other employee retirement or separation benefits, where the trustee is a Philippine national and at least sixty percent [60%] of the fund will accrue to the benefit of Philippine nationals: Provided, That where a corporation and its non-Filipino stockholders own stocks in a Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] registered enterprise, at least sixty percent [60%] of the capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote of each of both corporations must be owned and held by citizens of the Philippines, in order that the corporation shall be considered a Philippine national. SEC. 2. Sec. 7 of Republic Act No. 7042 is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 7. Foreign investments in domestic market enterprises. Non-Philippine nationals may own up to one hundred percent [100%] of domestic market enterprises unless foreign ownership therein is prohibited or limited by the Constitution and existing laws or the Foreign Investment Negative List under Section 8 hereof. SEC. 3. Section 8 of the Foreign Investments Act of 1991 is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 8. List of investment areas reserved to Philippine nationals [Foreign Investment Negative List]. The Foreign Investment Negative List shall have two [2] component lists: A and B: [a] List A shall enumerate the areas of activities reserved to Philippine nationals by mandate of the Constitution and specific laws. [b] List B shall contain the areas of activities and enterprises regulated pursuant to law:

1. which are defense-related activities, requiring prior clearance and authorization from the Department of National Defense [DND] to engage in such activity, such as the manufacture, repair, storage and/or distribution of firearms, ammunition, lethal weapons, military ordnance, explosives, pyrotechnics and similar materials; unless such manufacturing or repair activity is specifically authorized, with a substantial export component, to a non-Philippine national by the Secretary of National Defense; or 2. which have implications on public health and morals, such as the manufacture and distribution of dangerous drugs; all forms of gambling; nightclubs, bars, beer houses, dance halls, sauna and steam bathhouses and massage clinics. Small and medium-sized domestic market enterprises with paid-in equity capital less than the equivalent of Two hundred thousand US dollars [US$200,000.00], are reserved to Philippine nationals: Provided, That if [1] they involve advance technology as determined by the Department of Science and Technology, or [2] they employ at least fifty [50] direct employees, then a minimum paid-in capital of One hundred thousand US dollars (US$100,000.00) shall be allowed to non-Philippine nationals. Amendments to List B may be made upon recommendation of the Secretary of National Defense, or the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports, endorsed by the NEDA, or upon recommendation motu proprio, of NEDA, approved by the President, and promulgated by a Presidential Proclamation. The transitory Foreign Investment Negative List established in Section 15 hereof shall be replaced at the end of the transitory period by the First Regular Negative Lists to be formulated and recommended by NEDA following the process and criteria provided in Sections 8 and 9 of this Act. The First Regular Negative List shall be published not later than sixty [60] days before the end of the transitory period. Subsequent Foreign Investment Negative List shall become effective fifteen [15] days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines: Provided, however, That each Foreign Investment Negative List shall be prospective in operation and shall in no way affect foreign investments existing on the date of its publication. Amendments to List B after promulgation and publication of the First Regular Foreign Investment Negative List at the end of the transitory period shall not be made more often than once very two [2] years.

SEC. 4. Section 9 of the Foreign Investments Act of 1991 is hereby amended to read as follows: SEC. 9. Investment rights of former natural-born Filipinos. For purposes of this Act, former natural-born citizens of the Philippines shall have the same investment rights of Philippine citizens in Cooperatives under Republic Act No. 6938, Rural Banks under Republic Act No. 7353, Thrift Banks and Private Development Banks under Republic Act No. 7906, and Financing Companies under Republic Act No. 5980. These rights shall not extend to activities reserved by the Constitution including [1] the exercise of profession; [2] in defense-related activities under Section 8 (b) hereof, unless specifically authorized by the Secretary of National Defense; and [3] activities covered by Republic Act No. 1180 [Retail Trade Act], Republic Act No. 5487 [Security Agency Act], Republic Act No. 7076 [Small Scale Mining Act], Republic Act No. 3018, as amended [Rice and Corn Industry Act], and P.D. 449 [Cockpits Operation and Management]. SEC. 5. The Foreign Investments Act is further amended by inserting a new section designated as Section 10 to read as follows: SEC. 10. Other rights of natural-born citizen pursuant to the provisions of Article XII, Section 8 of the Constitution. Any natural-born citizen who has lost his Philippine citizenship and who has the legal capacity to enter into a contract under Philippine Laws may be a transferee of a private land up to a maximum area of five thousand [5,000] square meters in the case of urban land or three [3] hectares in the case of rural land to be used by him for business or other purposes. In the case of married couples, one of them may avail of the privilege herein granted: Provided, That If both shall avail of the same, the total area acquired shall not exceed the maximum herein fixed. In case the transferee already owns urban or rural land for business or other purposes, he shall be entitled to be a transferee of additional urban or rural land for business or other purposes which when added to those already owned by him shall not exceed the maximum areas herein authorized. A transferee under this Act may acquire not more than two [2] lots which should be situated in different municipalities or cities anywhere in the Philippines: Provided, That the total land area thereof shall not exceed five thousand [5,000] square meters in the case of urban land or three [3] hectares in the case of rural land for use by him for business or other

purposes. A transferee who has already acquired urban land shall be disqualified form acquiring rural land and vice versa. SEC. 6. The National Economic and Development Authority, in consultation with the Board of Investments, the Department of Trade and Industry and Securities and Exchange Commission, shall prepare and issue the necessary primer and other information campaign materials regarding the Foreign Investments Act and the amendments introduced thereto, with copies of said materials furnished all the Philippine embassies, consulates and other diplomatic offices abroad and disseminated to Filipino nationals, former natural-born Filipino citizens, and foreign investors, within sixty [60] days after the effectivity hereof. SEC. 7. The NEDA is hereby directed to make the necessary amendments to the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 7042 in order to reflect the changes embodied in the Act. SEC. 8. Sections 9 and 10 of Republic Act No. 7042 and all references thereto in said law are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. All other laws, rules and regulation and/or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. SEC. 9. If any part or section of this Act is declared unconstitutional for any reason whatsoever, such declaration shall not in any way affect the other parts or sections of this Act. SEC. 10. This Act shall take effect fifteen [15] days after publication in two [2] newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. Approved: March 28, 1996 _____________ Republic Act No. 7042 was amended by Republic Act No. 8179 which was approved on March 28, 1996. The date of effectivity thereof was on April 15, 1996. Republic Act No. 8179
Republic Act No. 9225 August 29, 2003

AN ACT MAKING THE CITIZENSHIP OF PHILIPPINE CITIZENS WHO ACQUIRE FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP PERMANENT. AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE COMMONWEALTH ACT. NO. 63, AS AMENDED AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: Section 1. Short Title this act shall be known as the "Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003." Section 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State that all Philippine citizens of another country shall be deemed not to have lost their Philippine citizenship under the conditions of this Act. Section 3. Retention of Philippine Citizenship - Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, natural-born citizenship by reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country are hereby deemed to have re-acquired Philippine citizenship upon taking the following oath of allegiance to the Republic: "I _____________________, solemny swear (or affrim) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and obey the laws and legal orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines; and I hereby declare that I recognize and accept the supreme authority of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; and that I imposed this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion." Natural born citizens of the Philippines who, after the effectivity of this Act, become citizens of a foreign country shall retain their Philippine citizenship upon taking the aforesaid oath. Section 4. Derivative Citizenship - The unmarried child, whether legitimate, illegitimate or adopted, below eighteen (18) years of age, of those who re-acquire Philippine citizenship upon effectivity of this Act shall be deemed citizenship of the Philippines. 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: (1) Those intending to exercise their right of surffrage must Meet the requirements under Section 1, Article V of the Constitution, Republic Act No. 9189, otherwise known as "The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003" and other existing laws; (2) Those seeking elective public in the Philippines shall meet the qualification for holding such public office as required by the Constitution and existing laws and, at the time of the filing of the certificate of candidacy, make a personal and sworn renunciation of any and all foreign citizenship before any public officer authorized to administer an oath; (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 oath; (4) Those intending to practice their profession in the Philippines shall apply with the proper authority for a license or permit to engage in such practice; and

(5) That right to vote or be elected or appointed to any public office in the Philippines cannot be exercised by, or extended to, those who: (a) are candidates for or are occupying any public office in the country of which they are naturalized citizens; and/or (b) are in active service as commissioned or non-commissioned officers in the armed forces of the country which they are naturalized citizens. Section 6. Separability Clause - If any section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, any other section or provision not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective. Section 7. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Section 8. Effectivity Clause This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in theOfficial Gazette or two (2) newspaper of general circulation.