Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 2649 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos 
AN ACT INTEGRATING VOTER EDUCATION IN THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 
CURRICULA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The right of suffrage is a fundamental pillar of Philippine democracy, enshrined in Article V of 
the 1987 Constitution. However, the meaningful exercise of this right requires more than legal 
entitlement; it calls for informed, responsible, and active participation. In recent years, the 
Philippines has continued to face significant challenges to the integrity of its electoral 
processes, including disinformation, vote-buying, and low youth engagement. These issues 
underscore the urgent need to enhance civic awareness and political literacy, particularly 
among the youth. 
At the same time, Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to protect 
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate 
measures to make such education accessible to all. In pursuit of this goal, the Enhanced Basic 
Education Act of 2013 reformed the national education system to ensure that curricula are 
responsive, relevant, and attuned to societal needs. 
Despite these reforms, there remains a significant gap in the formal teaching of voter education 
and political empowerment. Many young Filipinos reach voting age without adequate 
understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens, the electoral system, or the ability 
to critically evaluate political information and resist manipulation. 
This proposed measure seeks to integrate voter education into the basic education curriculum 
in order to cultivate a generation of informed, critical, and engaged citizens. By doing so, it aims 
to strengthen democratic institutions and foster meaningful participation in the country’s 
political life. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
 MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS 
       Representative 
 3rd District, Cotabato Province 
July 30, 2025
12:15 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 2649 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos 
AN ACT INTEGRATING VOTER EDUCATION IN THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 
CURRICULA 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Expanded Voter Education and 
Political Empowerment Act of 2025.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. Pursuant to Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution 
and consistent with the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 as amended, it is the policy 
of the State to promote participatory and accountable governance by embedding civic 
consciousness, political literacy, and electoral responsibility in the formal education system. 
The State shall ensure that students are equipped with the necessary tools to critically 
evaluate political choices, resist electoral manipulation, and actively contribute to 
democratic development. 
Section 3. Definition of Voter Education. As used in this Act, “voter education” refers to the 
structured and systematic teaching of the following: (a) The right of suffrage and its 
historical and legal foundations; (b) The structure and mechanics of the Philippine electoral 
system; (c) The rights and responsibilities of voters; (d) Ethical and evidence-based 
political decision-making; (e) Identification and rejection of disinformation, political 
propaganda, and manipulation. 
Section 4. Scope and Coverage. Voter and civic education shall be integrated into the 
curriculum of all public and private junior and senior high schools nationwide, and may be 
adopted by higher education institutions as appropriate. 
Section. 5. Integration in the Curriculum. The Department of Education (DepEd), in 
coordination with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Commission on Human 


Rights (CHR), shall integrate voter and civic education in the Araling Panlipunan and other 
relevant subjects in junior and senior high school curricula within one (1) year from the 
effectivity of this Act. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is encouraged to adopt 
similar modules in higher education curricula. 
 
Section. 6. Core Modules. The curriculum shall include, but not be limited to, the following 
modules: (a) Suffrage and Citizenship: History of voting rights in the Philippines; rights and 
duties of democratic citizens. (b) Philippine Electoral System: Types of elections and 
elective positions; registration and voting processes; role and functions of COMELEC and 
electoral tribunals. (c) Educated and Ethical Voting: Criteria for evaluating candidates and 
platforms; anti-vote buying laws and electoral fraud prevention. (d) Combating 
Disinformation: Media and political literacy; fact-checking techniques and legal remedies 
against fake news. (e) Participatory Governance: Youth engagement in barangay, 
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), and national policy processes. 
 
Section. 7. Teaching Personnel and Certification. DepEd and COMELEC shall jointly design 
a voter education teacher training program, including online and in-person modalities, 
within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. Teachers who complete the training 
shall be certified and prioritized for assignment to teach voter education modules. 
 
Section 8. Instructional Materials. DepEd shall provide textbooks, digital content, and 
multimedia tools aligned with the modules. Materials shall be: (a) Age-appropriate and 
culturally relevant; (b) Available in Filipino, English, and major regional languages; (c) 
Accessible in both print and digital formats, and compliant with accessibility standards for 
persons with disabilities. The Department of Information and Communications Technology 
(DICT) shall assist in creating an open-access online portal dedicated to voter education. 
 
SECTION 9. School-Based Programs. DepEd shall encourage all secondary schools to 
conduct: (a) Mock elections and youth-led political debates; (b) Seminars on voting rights 
and democratic accountability; (c) Voter registration awareness campaigns for eligible 
students. 
 
Section 10. Community and Institutional Partnerships. DepEd, in partnership with local 
government units (LGUs), COMELEC field offices, NGOs, and accredited people's 
organizations, shall promote community-based civic education activities in conjunction 
with the formal curriculum. 
 
Section 11. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting. An Inter-Agency Committee on Voter 
and Civic Education, composed of representatives from DepEd, COMELEC, CHR, and civil 
society, shall: (a) Monitor program compliance and impact; (b) Recommend curriculum 
updates every three (3) years; (c) Submit an annual report to the President and Congress 
not later than June 30 following the year of review, including recommendations to address 
gaps in the law and/or its implementation. 
 
Section 12. Administrative Sanctions. Violations of the provisions of this Act shall be 
subject to administrative sanctions in accordance with relevant laws. 


 
Section 13. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this 
Act shall be charged to the current year’s appropriations of the DepEd and COMELEC. 
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
Section 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the DepEd, COMELEC, CHR, and other relevant stakeholders shall 
issue the rules and regulations implementing its provisions. The IRR shall take effect thirty 
(30) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Section 15. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect. 
 
Section 16. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations 
contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 17. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,