NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2430
'ifilff'Cl’ ot 
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23 AUG 30 P 4 '41
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF RIZAL AS NATURALIST AND MEDICAL 
DOCTOR IN THE TEACHING OF RIZAL AT ALL LEVELS AND AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE RIZAL LAW
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Rizal Law, or Republic Act No. 1425 was debated heavily when it was 
passed in 1956. Since then, the teaching of Jose RizaTs novels in both high school and 
college has been a means for students to appreciate Jose Rizal.
However, the specificity of the Rizal Law in naming the novels as the major 
focus of the study of Rizal has left the other aspects of Rizal's life and work to be little 
studied and even less appreciated.
Recent innovations in communication as well as the participation of the 
creative industries in the dissemination of the life and works of our greatest patriot 
and renaissance man have bolstered the nation's appreciation of Rizal. Maria Clara at 
Ibarra, a recent television series that sought to humanize Rizal's characters, as well as 
numerous plays, conferences, and academic discussions on other aspects of Rizal's life 
and works have caused a resurgence in interest.


The recent focus on the last four years of his life spent in exile in Dapitan also 
brought up the lack of further investigation as to his medical practice and his 
naturalist teachings as well as the curriculum at the school he established there.
Hence, a renewed interest in Jose Rizal and his imagining of a great Filipino 
nation is needed and government support for such studies and teaching is long 
overdue.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
EN LEGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2430
o! t ■ ’ 
■ "’t:
23 AUG 30 P4:41
r - i”
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF RIZAL AS NATURALIST AND MEDICAL 
DOCTOR IN THE TEACHING OF RIZAL AT ALL LEVELS AND AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE RIZAL LAW
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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Section 1. Section 1 of Act No. 1425 is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal,
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INCLUDING HIS SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS AS A
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NATURALIST AND MEDICAL DOCTOR, HIS
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CORRESPONDENCE AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
IN
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DAPITAN, AND particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and El
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Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges
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and universities, public or private: Provided, That in the collegiate
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courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere
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and El Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be used as basic
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texts.
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The [Board of National Education] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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(DEPED) is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith
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measures to implement and carry out the provisions of this Section,
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including the writing and printing of appropriate primers, readers and
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textbooks, INCENTIVIZING RESEARCH AND FURTHER INQUIRY,


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AND INTEGRATING CULTURE, ARTS AND NATURE AS RIZAL 
DEMONSTRATED IN HIS LIFE. The [Board] DEPED shall, within 
sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and 
regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out, and 
enforce the provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and 
regulations providing for the exemption of students for reasons of 
religious belief stated in a sworn written statement, from the 
requirement of the provision contained in the second part of the first 
paragraph of this section; but not from taking the course provided for in 
the first part of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take 
effect thirty (30) days after their publication in the Official Gazette."
Sec. 2. Section 3 of Act No. 1425 is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
"SECTION 3. The DEPED AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER 
EDUCATION (CHED) [Board of National Education] shall cause the 
translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other 
writings of Jose Rizal into English, FILIPINO [Tagalog] and the 
principal Philippine LANGUAGES [dialects]; cause them to be printed 
in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of 
charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the SCHOOL AND 
MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES AND BARANGAY READING CENTERS 
[Purok organizations and Barrio Councils] throughout the country."
Sec. 3. A new section. Section 3a shall read as follows:
"SEC. 3.A. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. - THE 
CONTINUING STUDY ON THE LIFE OF RIZAL SHALL BE 
INCENTIVIZED AT ALL LEVELS AND INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE 
LIMITED TO HIS LITERARY WRITINGS, HIS 
CORRESPONDENCE, HIS SCIENTIFIC WRITINGS AND HIS 
PHYSICAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTS, SUCH AS THE 
DAPITAN WATERWORKS AND RELIEF MAP, SPECIMENS 
SUBMITTED IN INSTITUTIONS ABROAD, AS WELL AS 
ACADEMIC STUDIES ON HOW RIZAL IMAGINED THE FILIPINO 
NATIONS AS EXTRACTED FROM HIS LIFE AND WORKS.


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THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE CHED
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SHALL COLLABORATE WITH THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL
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COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE NATIONAL
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MUSEUM FOR THE FURTHERANCE AND DISSEMINATION OF
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SUCH RESEARCH. IN THE FULFILLMENT OF THEIR DUTIES
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UNDER THIS COLLABORATION, THE NHCP AND THE NM
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SHALL UNDERTAKE TO REPATRIATE SPECIMENS AND
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ARTIFACTS CONNECTED TO RIZAL OR SENT BY HIM TO
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MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS ABROAD."
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Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within thirty (30) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the
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Commissioner of Internal Revenue, shall promulgate the necessary rules and
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regulations for its effective implementation.
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Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional
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or invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid.
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Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules
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and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with this Act
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are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the
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Philippines.
Approved,