AN ACT EXEMPTING ALIENS WHO HAVE ACQUIRED PERMANENT RESIDENCY UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 324 FROM THE COVERAGE OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7919

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 8247

Exemption from Alien Social Integration Act
- Aliens who have acquired permanent residency under Executive Order No. 324 are exempted from the coverage of Republic Act No. 7919 (Alien Social Integration Act of 1995). (Section 1)
- Their legal residence granted under Executive Order No. 324 is affirmed and given full faith and credit. (Section 1)

Coverage of Alien Social Integration Act
- Grants legal residence status to aliens whose stay in the Philippines is otherwise illegal under existing laws, and who have entered the country prior to June 30, 1992, upon compliance with the provisions of the Act. (Section 1)
- Excludes alien refugees from applying under the Act. (Section 1)
- Bars prosecution for crimes defined under Commonwealth Act No. 613 (Immigration Act of 1940) that are inherent to illegal residence, such as the absence of valid travel documents or visa. (Section 1)
- The bar to prosecution applies only to crimes or felonies committed due to acts necessary or essential to maintain a false, fraudulent, or illegal residence, such as falsification of marriage, birth or baptismal certificates, or travel documents, visas, or alien certificates of registration. (Section 1)

Integration Fees
- Applicants under the Alien Social Integration Act must pay an integration fee of ₱100,000 upon filing registration forms with the bank, plus ₱50,000 per year over a three-year period from the payment of the first installment. (Section 2)
- The subsequent three installment payments should be paid within twelve months from the date of the first payment without any extensions. (Section 2)
- Integration fees paid by aliens granted legal residence under Executive Order No. 324 who registered anew under the provisions of this Act shall be refunded. (Section 2)
- Alternatively, the applicant may immediately pay ₱200,000 in lieu of the installment payments. (Section 2)

Duties of the Bureau of Immigration
- Upon presentation of the official receipt from the bank, certification from the bank or agency concerned, and submission of the registration forms, the Bureau of Immigration shall immediately issue an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and Immigrant Certificate of Residence (ICR) to the applicant. (Section 3)
- The legal residence granted under this Act shall commence from the date the Bureau of Immigration issues the ACR and ICR. (Section 3)
- The Bureau of Immigration shall publish, at the applicant's cost, the names, ages, municipality/city of residence, and a photograph of each applicant in a national newspaper of general circulation at the end of each calendar month during the effectivity of the application period. (Section 3)
- The banks authorized to collect the fees shall collect a publication fee of ₱5,000 from the applicant. (Section 3)

Application Period
- The benefits extended by Section 3 can be availed of from June 1, 1995, to June 30, 1997. (Section 4)

Severability Clause and Repealing Clause
- If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. (Section 5)
- All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. (Section 6)

Effectivity
- This Act shall take effect immediately after its publication in at least two national newspapers of general circulation. (Section 7)