SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES ) Sean
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
Third Regular Session )

“18 JUN 26(¢P 4:21

SENATE KV

Ree; a
SENATE BILL NO. _1855 /

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING GOOD MANNERS AND RIGHT CONDUCT
AND CHARACTER EDUCATION IN THE CURRICULUM OF ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY LEVEL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution mandates that all educational institutions shall inculcate
Patriotism and nationalism, foster love of humanity, respect for human rights,
appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the
country, teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual
values, develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and
creative thinking, broaden scientific and technological knowledge, and promote
vocational efficiency.

Values education aims to develop a Filipino citizen who will strive for the foundation
of a culture rich individual and for the development of a democratic nation and
society.

As early as 1991, the Department of Education issued department orders
implementing guidelines of Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) at the
elementary and secondary level. Values Education / GMRC as a subject revolves
around four major themes, namely, valuing self, valuing others, valuing one’s
country and valuing God. It also focuses on acceptable norms of behavior as
defined by Philippine society, including rational thinking and value judgment
developed through an experiential approach.

By 2002, there has been a restructuring of the Values Education Program in the
advent of the Revised Basic Education Curriculum. The latter intends to provide



knowledge and develop skills, attitudes and values essential to personal
development and necessary for living in and contributing to a developing and
changing society. Moreover, it aims to provide learning experiences which increase
the child’s awareness of and responsiveness to the changes in society; and
promote and intensify knowledge, identification with and love for the nation and
the people to which he or she belongs. The desired outcome of the whole
education reform is the development of the patriotic human being who is
environmentally sensitive and God-fearing, "Makabayan, Makatao, Makakalikasan
at Maka-Diyos”.

At present, the K to 12 includes in its curriculum "Edukasyong Pagpapakatao”. At
the elementary level, Character Education is replaced by Fdukasyon sa
Pagpapakatao which focuses on honing an individual's capacity to make moral and
ethical decisions and actions. On the other hand, at the secondary level, the
program is based on ethics and career guidance. It covers concepts of self and
humanity, moral values, career choices, and responsibility. It’s emphasis is on
value inculcation or character-based education in the different subjects. Although
the program was packaged differently, it did not deviate from the four major
themes of the GMRC subject — self-worth, harmony with other people, love of
country and global solidarity and love of God and preference for good.

To ensure that values will be integrated in every learning areas with the end goal
that a student's character as an individual, a member of a society and a citizen be
cultivated, Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) should be entrenched at the
elementary and secondary levels.

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

JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO



SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES ) Sone fos.
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )

Third Regular Session ) 18 JUN 26 s/
SENATE Be

SENATE BILL NO._1855

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING GOOD MANNERS AND RIGHT CONDUCT
AND CHARACTER EDUCATION IN THE CURRICULUM OF ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY LEVEL

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “GMRC Act”.

SECTION 2. Deciaration of Policy— In consonance with the K-12 Program
on Edukasyong Pagpapakatao, it is the policy of the State to promote character
formation and wholesome personality development by requiring schools at the
elementary and secondary level to inculcate patriotism and nationalism, foster love
of humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of national heroes
in the historical development of the country, teach the rights and duties of
citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, and develop moral character
and personal discipline. Thus, character education and good manners and right
conduct (GMRC) will now be an integral part of the basic education system of the
country.

GMRC is vital to the academic development of a Filipino child as a self-reliant
and patriotic citizen. It is also the policy of the State that good manners and right
conduct are indispensable for a member of a nation or society.



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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. ~ The terms in this Act are defined as
follows:

(a) DepEd shall refer to the Department of Education;

(b) K to 12 Program shall be understood to cover Kindergarten and 12 years
of basic education (six years of primary or elementary education, four
years of Junior High School and two years of Senior High School or
secondary level education)

(c) Mother tongue refers to the first language learned by the child.

SECTION 4. Jnstitutionalization of Good Manners and Right Conduct
(GMRCQ) in the school curriculum. — Good Manners and Right Conduct is hereby
institutionalized as part of the curriculum in the present K to 12 program.

SECTION 5. Medium of Instruction. - The State shall hereby adopt the
mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) method. The mother
tongue of the learner shall be the primary medium of instruction for teaching and
learning as provided for in the K to 12 Program.

The DepEd, in coordination with the Commission on Filipino Language and
in close collaboration with academic and research institutions concerned with
education, shall formulate a mother tongue-based multilingual framework for
teaching and learning.

SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. - The authority to regulate the
implementation of the good manners and right conduct in the curriculum of every
educational institutions at the elementary and secondary levels shall be vested
upon the DepEd.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90)
days after the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd, shall promulgate the rules and
regulations needed for the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 8. Separability clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the
other provisions hereof.



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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — Pertinent provisions of all other laws,
decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazete or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,