Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 609

Introduced by HON. RESURRECCION MARRERO-ACOP, MD

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution recognizes the natural and primary right and
duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the
development of moral character, as stated in Section 12, Article II thereof.

In the case of SPARK v. Quezon City!, the High Court explained that it
is during childhood that minors are prepared for additional obligations to
society. The duty to prepare the child for these obligations must be read to
include the inculcation of moral standards, religious beliefs, and elements of
good citizenship. This affirmative process of teaching, guiding, and inspiring
by precept and example is essential to the growth of young people into mature,
socially responsible citizens.

Indeed, parents are instrumental in the instillation of good manners
and right conduct to their young children as it begins in the home. However,
there will come a time when children would begin spending extended hours
in school and away from home. The schools necessarily take over the role of
parents and teach the children proper habits.

Character Education/Good Manners and Right Conduct (CE/GMRC)
was added as a separate learning area in elementary school by the
Department of Education (then known as the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports) back in 1991 when it issued Department Order No. 90.
The list of objectives in the learning area were honesty, politeness, helpfulness
and cooperation, obedience, concern for others, and sportsmanship.

In 2002, the Department of Education restructured the Basic

Education Curriculum and integrated Values Education in all subject areas.
Although a reading of Department Order No. 41, series of 2003 shows that it

1 G.R_No, 225442, August 8, 2017


was the intention to emphasize Values Education, it appears that the same
took a backseat instead.

In a recent study conducted by the World Bank’, it was found that the
elementary education curriculum in the Philippines devotes little attention to
socioemotional skills. International experience shows values education as one
of the areas that have the greatest impact on socioemotional skills. Evidence
from developed countries suggests that socioemotional skills are an important
component of job performance in a modern economy.

As aptly stated by Education Secretary Leonor Briones, “the world is
changing. The values of our society and of the grown-ups are also
changing...As we prepare our learners to be grown-ups, they can contribute
to shaping such values because eventually, they too will become leaders.”

Hence, this proposed measure seeks to institutionalize Good Manners
and Right Conduct in the basic education curriculum in order to develop the
moral character and consequently the socioeconomic skills of the Filipino
youth so that they may grow into socially responsible citizens of the country.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

RESURRECCION MARRERO-ACOP, MD

Representative
2nd District, Antipolo City

2 Acosta, P., Igarashi, T., Olfindo, R. and Rutkowski, J., 2017 Developing socioemotional skills for the
Philippines’ labor market. The World Bank

3. Enano, J. (2018) ‘DepEd eyes good manners and right conduct class’ Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 18.
Available at: https//newsinfo. inquirer. net/10017 12/deped-eyes-good-manners-and-right-conduct-class


Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 609.

Introduced by HON. RESURRECCION MARRERO-ACOP, MD

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING GOOD MANNERS AND RIGHT CONDUCT
AND CHARACTER EDUCATION IN THE
BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Good Manners and
Right Conduct Act of 2019.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to aid parents in the moral development of their children. It is recognized
that the integration of good manners and right conduct in the basic education
curriculum is essential in shaping the Filipino youth into morally and socially
responsible citizens of the country.

SEC. 3. Institutionalization of Good Manners and Right Conduct
as a Subject in the Basic Education Curriculum of Basic Education. —
Good Manners and Right Conduct is hereby institutionalized as a subject in
the basic education curriculum.

SEC. 4. Implementing Agency. - The authority to regulate the
implementation of Good Manners and Right Conduct in the curriculum of
every educational institution offering the Basic Education Curriculum is
hereby vested upon the DepEd.

SEC. 5. Funding. - The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the annual budget of the DepEd in accordance
with the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of
Education shall promulgate within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this
Act, the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this
Act.


SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or
any part hereof be declared invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provision
not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, rules and regulations
or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,