epublie of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City. Metre Manila

RECEIVED
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Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

» 350

HOUSE BILL no. 820

Introduced by Honorable Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The issues of federalism and parliamentary form of government are once
again being thrust into the national conversation.

To most of our countrymen, however, federalism remains to be a dense
and difficult topic. It is not difficult to understand why there has not been a
groundswell of support for federalism. It is a system of governance that is new to
most Filipinos who have never experienced any political system other than a
unitary or highly centralized form of governance. Compounding the problem is the
fact that there is no "standard federal form of government" in the world - each
country with a federal set-up has distinctive characteristics adapted or suited to its
own political realities or dynamics. To illustrate, the system prevailing in the
Federal Republic of Germany is different from the one in place in the United States
of America or those being practiced in Malaysia and Australia.

On the other hand, when it comes to the parliamentary form of
government, the Philippines had a very brief experience under that set-up during
the Marcos-Virata period. And similar to the federalist question, proponents have
to make a choice which to adopt as between the British or the French model.

If the federal-parliamentary form of government is to take root in the
Philippines, it is indispensable that policy-makers institutionalize a massive
information program to familiarize Filipinos as to the merits of this laudable social
experimentation. More fundamentally, it is vital to integrate in the formal
education sector the teaching of this ground- breaking form of public
administration. A mandatory subject in the higher education curriculum on
"Modern Political Systems” that would focus on federalism and the parliamentary


form of governance would be a first step in orienting our countrymen as to the
mechanics of this political innovation.

It is important to bear in mind, however, that the proposed new required
course in the tertiary level should be separate and distinct from all the other
existing subjects in political science or public administration. If we need to
remember the lessons learned in the mandatory teaching of the Rizal course, when
colleges resorted to teaching the life. works and writings of our national hero
merely aspart of the "Philippine Government and History" or the "Philippine
Constitution and Government" subjects in the general education course, only a
cursory knowledge of Dr. Jose Rizal was attained among students. When too much
material is compressed into a subject designed to be completed within one
semester, the noble objectives of our educational system could only be
compromised.

The present collegiate courses in political science and public
administration offer a scant acquaintance and shallow familiarity with federalism
and parliamentary systems. In their attempts to provide an overview or a grand
sweep of ideas on democracy, freedoms, political economy, etc., these subjects
could not afford to provide the Filipino youth a working knowledge of the complex
concepts of federalism and parliamentary governance. On the other hand, political
leaders and their staff have been called upon to attend multiple symposia, seminars
and lectures on federalism. These however are mere crash courses which, at best,
could only offer a segmented or disjointed view of the federalist paradigm. If
federalism is to become engrafted or ingrained into the political culture of
Filipinos, the same could only be attained through measured or calculated steps.
We need to build a momentum first and, thereafter, sustain that momentum so that
federalist values could seep into the consciousness of our countrymen. We are in
for the long haul, so to speak. And that steady momentum could only be built up
through the formal educational system.

In order to ensure therefore the success of the federalist experiment, it is
imperative that we make a thorough or in-depth study of that new political
template an integral part of our formal school system.

In view of all the foregoing considerations, the early approval of this bill is
earnestly requested.

DANILO RAM! S. FERNAXDEZ
Lone District of Santa Rosa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City.Metro Manila

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

350

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by Honorable Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez

AN ACT
MANDATING THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED)
TO INCLUDE A COURSE ON MODERN POLITICAL SYSTEMS, WITH
EMPHASIS ON FEDERALISM AND PARLIAMENTARY FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT, AS A MANDATORY SUBJECT IN THE HIGHER
EDUCATION CURRICULUM

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTIONI. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Modern Political

Systems Studies Act."

SEC. 2. Higher Education Curriculum. - For purposes of this Act, the term
"higher education curriculum" shall refer to the general education curriculum

designed for students taking up courses leading to a degree.

SEC. 3. Inclusion of a Course on "Modern Political Systems" as a Mandatory
Subject in the Higher Education Curriculum. — Pursuant to its Mandate under
Republic Act 7722 or the "Higher Education Act of 1994", the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) is hereby mandated to develop a course on "Modem

Political Systems" as a mandatory subject in the higher education curriculum,


Further, the CHED shall encourage the preparation and publication of

textbooks and other instructional materials in support of the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 4. Course Content. -In the process of curriculumdevelopment and the
preparation and publication of textbooks and other pertinent reading materials on
Modem Political Systems, the CHED shall ensure that emphasis would be given to
the teaching of federalism, parliamentary forms of government and other aspects of
modern governance. The subject "Modem Political Systems" shall be separate and
distinct from all other existing courses on political science and public
administration, and shall not in any manner be absorbed, merged with or subsumed

under the latter.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Chairperson of the CHED
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective

implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Repealing clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of

this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC.7. Effectivity clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,