Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
 Introduced by Hon. Charisse Anne C. Hernandez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Genuine peace is necessary to achieve national development and economic growth and it is 
attainable through inculcating in the citizens its value, thereby raising a generation that understands 
and honors its importance. 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that "The Philippines renounces war as an instrument 
of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law 
of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation and amity 
with all nations." 
The same Constitution declares that "The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, 
liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by 
all the people of the blessings of democracy." 
We often disregard peace until it is gone. That is why there should be a conscious effort on the 
part of the government and its citizens to maintain peace and order, national unity, and amity with 
other nations. As Albert Einstein said, “Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by 
understanding." 
February 15, 2023
9:45 am
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This bill seeks to declare January 24 of every year as National Peace Day, a Special Working 
Holiday. 
In January 24, 2014, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a South 
Korea-based non-governmental organization advocating for world peace and cessation of war, 
expanded its peace movement in the Philippines starting in Mindanao through the civilian-led 
peace agreement between local representatives known as “Mindanao Peace Agreement”. 
Later on, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and HWPL entered into a Memorandum 
of Agreement in January 2018 which resulted in the approval of CHED Memorandum Order No. 
1 Series of 2019 mandating all higher educational institutions to integrate peace studies in their 
respective curricula. From 2019 to 2022, HWPL has conducted 14 sessions of the Peace Education 
Capacity Building Program for 2,551 educators both under CHED and the Department of 
Education. Currently, there are 36 educational institutions that are implementing peace education. 
January 24 is also proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as International Day of 
Education, in celebration of the role of education for bringing global peace and sustainable 
development. 
By observing January 24 as National Peace Day, a special working holiday, and by conducting 
several programs promoting peace throughout the country on the same day, Filipinos across all 
ages will be able to appreciate the importance of peace in our country. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
CHARISSE ANNE C. HERNANDEZ 
          Representative 
          Lone District, Calamba City


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
 Introduced by Hon. Charisse Anne C.  Hernandez 
AN ACT 
DECLARING JANUARY 24 AS NATIONAL PEACE DAY, 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 is hereby named the "National Peace Day Act of 2019" 
further declaring January 24 as Special Working Holiday. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the state to uphold peace as it is declared 
by the Philippine Constitution that "The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, 
liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by 
all the people of the blessings of democracy" shall be observed. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
(a) Peace. Peace means not only the absence of violence, wars, and conflicts, but the
presence of love, understanding, harmony, development, and respect for one's inalienable rights. 
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(b) Peace Activities. This shall mean any peace for symposia, seminars, workshops, 
lectures, including peace marches and peace rallies that will be simultaneously conducted during 
the National Peace Day. 
(c) Peace Programs. This shall mean series of peace activities and projects included in any 
institution-wide long-term peace plan. 
(d) Peace Centers. This shall mean permanent facilities devoted solely for peace activities 
and programs and function as the coordinating office for the National Peace Day Celebration. 
(e) Educational Institutions. This shall mean any of the Philippine private and public higher 
education institutions, private and public elementary and high schools engaged in permanently 
providing basic and tertiary education. 
(f) Peace Volunteers. This shall mean any organization or individual that have been 
advocating and promoting peace. 
Sec. 4. Scope. The content of peace activities and peace programs during the National 
Peace Day shall be coordinated by the local peace center and shall cover the areas of violence 
prevention and mediation, guidance and counseling, unity and harmony, rehabilitation of 
prisoners, conflict resolution, inter-cultural dialogue and solidarity, and social justice. 
Sec. 5. Peace Centers. Peace centers shall be coordinating offices for the National Day 
celebration and shall be established in all local government units (LGUs), state universities and 
colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), private higher education institutions 
(PHEIs) and in all national al government agencies. 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within 90 days from the approval of this Act, 
the state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), Commission on 
Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the Interior and 
Local Government (DILG), and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), 
and all the national government agencies, shall jointly issue the Implementing Rules and 
Regulations of this Act. 


Sec. 7. Private Higher Education Institutions. The private higher education institutions 
(PHEIs) shall independently conduct its peace activities and implement peace programs, including 
the appropriation of its budget in observance of the National Peace Day. 
Sec. 8. Appropriations. This Act shall direct al state universities and colleges (SUCs) and 
local universities and colleges (LUCs), including al government agencies to invest in peace-
making by appropriating half percent (.005) of their annual budget in the General Appropriations 
Act (GA) as yearly budget for the National Peace Day celebration. 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. Any portion or provision of this Act that is declared 
unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long 
as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety. 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations other issuances or parts 
thereof which are inconsistent with this Act shall hereby be deemed repealed or modified. 
Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,