HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

House Bill No, 6021

Introduced by Hon. DEOGRACIAS VICTOR “DV” B. SAVELLANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution provides that, all educational institutions shall include the
study of the Constitution as part of the curricula. Accordingly, the state 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.

Relevant to this act is Sec 3 Article IV of the Constitution which provides that,
Science and technology are essential for national development and progress. The State
shall give priority to research and development, invention, innovation, and their
utilization; and to science and technology education, training, and services. It shall
‘support indigenous, appropriate, and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities,
and their application to the country’s productive systems and national life.

Given the technological advancements developing around the world, youth
nowadays are more preoccupied in senseless activities tending to either boost their
notoriety, aiming to improve their respective self-gratifications, in social applications or
communicate with others with the sole purpose of creating non-platonic relationships,
which distance them to more important things like, the sense of patriotism.

If this situation continues, our nation will shortly be devastated. So we must try to
develop sense of patriotism in our children.

Through unity and homogeneity of the citizens of the nation, integrity of the
nation is ensured. Today's children are the citizens of tomorrow. So it is necessary to
develop extreme patriotism amongst children right from early days. Otherwise they
cannot develop sense of making sacrifice for the welfare of society and nation when
they grow up.

In fact the sense of patriotism should have been created in children from the

‘study of history, but unfortunately our educational system is quantity oriented instead of
quality based. The children are evaluated on the basis of marks they score in


‘examination, so the students only pay attention to scoring more marks. The students
learn history only to get good marks. This outlook needs to be changed urgently. History
should be leamt not only to get good marks but also to develop patriotism. The parents
and teachers should imbibe the same outlook then only they can change way of thinking
of children. If our next generation doesn’t have any affection towards our nation, then
we will be doomed soon. If nation survives, our society will survive, and then only | will
be alive. This feeling must be inculcated in the minds of children.

Review of students should be taken to find out if they develop sense of patriotism
by studying the history. For example, study of the sacrifices made by freedom fighters to
achieve freedom and then how do they feel if they see our national flag strewn on the
ground on Independence Day. Such questions need to be asked to them regularly to
stop disrespect being shown to for our national flag. They should be encouraged to view
such movies which will develop love and respect for our nation.

The passage of this bill intends to impart the correct outlook to children on the
mental and intellectual levels with respect to the culture and tradition of the Philippines.

With the advancement of technology, the state should utilize its causes and
effects to inculcate and rekindle the Filipinos’ love and affection to their country. By
tapping social mechanisms, created by the rise of Facebook Empire, that administer the
dissemination of information, the state can employ the same as a driver that promote or
popularize our cultural diversity and tradition.

Considering the numerous and endless use of mass media, social applications,
including the various industries which utilizes the same, the penetration of the
aforementioned avenues is indispensable for the popularization of our culture and
tradition. Without mandatory integrated approaches designed to direct the people,
particularly the youth, to the road to patriotism such as this proposed bill, our nation will
be akin to an valueless empty shell occupied by

In view of the foregoing, the passage of house bill___is earnestly sought.

DEOGRACIAS VI IR “DV” B. SAVELLANO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila
Seventeenth Congress

Second Regular,
HOUSE BILL nobOSL

Introduced by HON. DEOGRACIAS VICTOR “DV” B. SAVELLANO.

AN ACT
INTEGRATING “CULTURE AND TRADITION” IN THE COURSE OF STUDY AMIDST EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS, IN ALL PHASES OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SPEAR-HEADED BY
PHILIPPINE CULTURAL EDUCATION COMMISSION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR ITS
CREATION, AND FOR OTHER RELEVANT PURPOSES NECESSARY FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT
OF THE OBJECTIVES STATED HEREIN

Be 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 Patriotism Curricula Act of 2017”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the mandate of the 1987 Constitution
to foster the preservation and improvement of the Filipino national culture, and its integration
among crucial sectors of the society, including but not limited to, education, artistic, intellectual
expression, commerce, governance, technological advancements, and basically the assimilation
of the same to the way of life of every inhabitant.

It is the declared policy of the State, as provided for by the Constitution, 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, develop moral character and
Personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, broaden scientific and
technological knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency.

Also, a declared policy of the State, to recognize and treat with due deference the
artistic and historic wealth as the same constitute the cultural treasure of the nation. Popularize
the nation’s historical and cultural heritage.

Equally important, is the State’s drive to inculcate culture or tradition sensitive
approaches to the youth, enhancing their literacy in the Filipino Language, national identity and
Patriotism, with a view to equipped them with skills and knowledge to effectively compete
globally.


Pursuant to this, the State shall endeavor to establish parameters that will systematize
culture and tradition in all relevant phases of national development, conduct necessary
campaign or awareness drives to promote the same and incentivize private or public entities
that will undertake measures which facilitates or administers cultural knowledge in different
trade and industries.

SECTION 3: Definition of Terms — As used in this act

a) Commission- to formally choose an entity that will translate into reality, both in
implementation and enforcement, the objectives and policies provided in this Act. It
shall refer to the Philippine Cultural Education Commission.

b) Culture- the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group
of people at a particular time

¢)_ Tradition- a belief, principle, or way of acting that people in a particular society or group
have continued to follow for a long time, or all of these beliefs, etc. in a particular
society or group.

d) Agency — for the purpose of this act, shall refer to a government instrumentality,
agency, commission or board in charge of superintending the actions of the commission.

SECTION 4: Establishment of the commission — to accomplish the objectives stated herein, the
Philippine Cultural Education Commission is hereby established, which shall be referred to as
the Commission.

SECTION 5: Composition of the Commission.- The Commission shall be composed of four full-
time members. During the transition period which begins upon approval of this Act, the
President shall appoint the Head of the National Committee on Cultural Education of the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts as ex officio chairman of the Commission for a
maximum period of one (1) year. Thereafter, the Head of the National Committee on Cultural
Education shall assume as ex-officio commissioner unless appointed as Chairman of the
Commission.

The President shall appoint a Chairman of the Commission and the other two (2)
commissioners, who shall be holders of earned masteral or doctorate(s), who have been
actively engaged in cultural work, heritage conservation and advocacy, education, development
planning, communication, trade and industries, policy development and/or legal practice for at
least ten (10) years, and must not have been candidates for elective positions in the elections
immediately preceding their appointment. They shall be practitioners or academicians known
for their high degree of professionalism and integrity who have distinguished themselves as
authorities in their chosen fields of learning. The members of the Commission shall belong to
different fields of specializations.


SECTION 6: Term of Office. - The President shall appoint the full-time chairman and the two
commissioners for a term of four (4) years, without prejudice to one reappointment. The terms
of the initial appointees shall be on a staggered basis: the full-time chairman shall hold office
for a term of four (4) years, and the next two (2) commissioners for three (3) years. The term of
the ex-officio member shall be coterminous to his term of office as Head of the National
Committee on Cultural Education of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

The commissioners shall hold office until their successors shall have been appointed and
qualified. Should a member of the Commission fail to complete his term, his successor shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines but only for the unexpired portion of the term.

SECTION 7: Rank and Emoluments- The Chairman and the Commissioners shall have the rank
of a Department Secretary and Undersecretary, respectively. They shall receive the
compensation and other emoluments corresponding to those of a Department Secretary and
Undersecretary, respectively, and shall be subject to the same disqualifications.

SECTION 8. Board of Advisers - There shall be constituted a Board of Advisers which shall meet
with the Commission at least once a year to assist it in aligning its programs, policies and plans
with the country’s national development policies and program.

The Board of Advisers shall be composed of the following:

a) the Secretary of the Department of Education;

b) the Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts;

¢)_ the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education

d) the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industries

e) the Secretary of the Department of Tourism

f) the Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority
8) the Director General of the of the TESDA

hh) the Chairman of the Commission and the three (3) Commissioners

i) the Executive Director of the Commission;

Three (3) additional members of the Board of Advisers may be appointed by the
President upon recommendation of the Commission.

SECTION 9: Powers and Functions- The Commission shall have the following powers and
functions:

a) Spearhead the integration and mainstreaming of culture and heritage in the
Philippines Development Plan in cooperation with the NEDA, NCCA and other
cultural agencies;

b) Curate all existing cultural knowledge and conduct nationwide cultural and heritage
mapping in cooperation with all local government units and other relevant


¢)

)

8)

h)

i)

i

k)

government instrumentalities, towards the development of index of knowledge of
Philippine Culture, Arts and Heritage;

Conduct and support researches and knowledge-exchanges on culture, heritage and
sustainable development;

Develop cultural education programs for overseas Filipinos in coordination with
Sentro Rizal and the Department of Foreign Affairs;

Develop the minimum cultural competencies to be integrated in the basic and
higher education curriculum as recommended by panels of experts in the field and
subject to public hearing, and enforce the same in coordination with the
Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and other relevant
government instrumentalities;

Support the development of research centers on cultural and heritage education
across the country in cooperation with HEIs and the Commission on Higher
Education.

Accredit all instructional materials such as textbooks, teaching-learning manuals,
and multimedia materials use in basic education to determine their compliance with
the minimum content standards and learning competencies on culture, heritage and
the arts;

Develop culture-based instructional materials such as textbooks, teaching-learning
manuals, and multimedia materials to be used in basic education, mass media, trade
and industries, and other sectors;

Institutionalize the teaching of culture-based education, theories and pedagogies in
the curricula of teacher's education in universities and colleges in coordination with
the Commission on Higher Education and Philippine Regulatory Commission;
Develop an institutionalized formal and non-formal training programs for in-service
teachers on culture-based education and pedagogy;

Develop and implement a formal and non-formal education training programs on
culture-based governance, cultural awareness and sensitivity programs for elected
officials, government workers, artists, tourism and development officers, media
workers and military, amongst others;

Provide technical assistance to local government units in mainstreaming culture and
heritage in their local development plans and program:
Develop comprehensive training program on the mainstreaming of culture and
heritage-based development perspectives in trade and industries and other sectors
of society;

Take a role in the development of the country’s creative economy, cultural hubs and
infrastructures to leverage the potential of culture, arts and heritage in the country’s
growth, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industries, Department of
Tourism, National Economic and Development Authority and other government
instrumentalities, lastly;

Promulgate such rules and regulations and exercise such other powers and functions
‘as may be necessary to carry out effectively the purpose and objectives of this Act.



SECTION 10: The Secretariat- The Commission shall organize a secretariat which shall be
headed by an executive officer, subject to the national compensation and position classification
plan. It shall fix the secretariat’s staffing pattern, determine the duties, qualifications,
responsibilities and functions, as well as the compensation scheme for the positions to be
created upon the recommendation of the executive officer. It shall also prepare and approve its
budget.

SECTION 11: Duties of government agencies with regards to Culture and Heritage
Mainstreaming- In pursuance of this Act, the following agencies are hereby mandated to carry
out the following directives:

a) Department of Education- The Department of Education in cooperation with the
Commission shall define the minimum cultural competencies for 21* century
learners to be integrated in all levels of the basic education curriculum. It is also
mandated to adopt culture-based education pedagogy in the teaching of all subjects
across the basic education curriculum, thereby supporting formal and non-formal
teachers’ training on cultural education and the development of culture-based
teaching and instructional materials, manuals, references and other resources. It
shall also develop assessment tools that will accurately measure the levels of
schools’ culture-based education programs and provide incentives and sanctions
accordingly.

b) Commission on Higher Education-The Commission on Higher Education in
cooperation with the Commission shall develop different sets of cultural
competencies for every discipline in order to equip Filipino graduates with necessary
skills to compete and effectively function in culturally-diverse professional
environments. It shall also fund formal and non-formal teachers’ training, extension
and research works on cultural education, culture, heritage, art and sustainable
development.

The Commission on Higher Education shall also require the inclusion of 6
units of culture-based education subjects in the teachers’ education core curriculum,
and provide scholarship for post-graduate studies on cultural and heritage
education. It shall also support and promote the development of separate Bachelor
of Arts degree on Cultural/Culture-based Education or any similar programs as well
as the development of research centers on cultural and heritage education
nationwide.

¢) Professional Regulation Commission-The Professional Regulation Commission shall
integrate cultural competencies in the contents of various professional licensure
examinations it administers.

d) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-The Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority shall certify indigenous and traditional skills. It shall


8)

h)

)

i)

also develop culture-based vocational courses as part of efforts to support
indigenous peoples (IPs) and promote Philippine culture.

National Economic and Development Authority- In cooperation with the
Commission, the National Economic and Development Authority shall integrate and
mainstream culture and heritage-based development perspectives in the Philippine
Development Plan. It shall adopt the development of creative industries, cultural
hubs and infrastructures as integral part of its strategic policy development
framework. It shall provide guidelines on how to mainstream culture and heritage
on local development planning and programs.

Department of Interior and Local Government-The Department of Interior and Local
Government Units shall actively support and promote trainings and programs
involving local government executives on culture-based governance. It shall also
include culture and heritage management as integral criteria of its Seal of Good
Governance.

Local Government Units (LGUs)- All local government units (LGUs) are mandated to
carry out standardized mapping of its cultural and heritage resources in coordination
with the Commission and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts. They
shall also integrate and mainstream culture and heritage in their local development
planning and programming.

Civil Service Commission- The Civil Service Commission shall require all government
employees to attend a course on cultural awareness and sensitivity to be provided
by the Commission.

Department of Foreign Affairs- The Department of Foreign Affairs in coordination
with Sentro Rizal and the Commission shall develop cultural education programs for
overseas Filipinos.

Department of Trade and Industries- In coordination with the Commission and the
National Commission on Culture and the Arts and other relevant agencies, the
Department of Trade and Industries shall carry out programs to develop and
promote the establishment of the country's creative economy and cultural industry
especially those in the regions. It shall fund studies on how to adopt culture-based
approaches and paradigms to improve industry efficiency, business and
management practices. It shall also provide funding for the development of micro,
small and medium cultural enterprises across the country.

Department of Tourism- The Department of Tourism shall pursue culture-based
approaches on its tourism planning, policies and strategies. It shall adopt responsible
tourism practices which help in conserving the country’s cultural and heritage
resources. It shall require all tourism officers in the country to attend courses on


culturally responsible and sensitive tourism strategies and practices to be
administered by the Commission.

|) Philippine Statistics Authority- The Philippine Statistics Authority in cooperation with
the Commission, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, National
Economic and Development Authority and other relevant agencies shall
institutionalize the gathering of cultural statistics to be used in the country’s
development planning and programs.

m) All other agencies and instrumentalities of Philippine government- In cooperation
with the Commission, all other agencies and instrumentalities of Philippine
government shall adopt measures to mainstream and integrate culture and
heritage-based development perspectives to innovate and improve their systems
and processes.

The Commission shall coordinate, cooperate, monitor and evaluate the compliance of
the above-mentioned agencies to their duties as set forth in this Act, and shall make report
accordingly with recommendations to be forwarded to the concerned agencies, the Congress
and the President.

SECTION 13: Incentives and Awards- There shall be established an incentives and awards
system which shall be administered by a board under such rules and regulations as may be
promulgated by the Commission to deserving persons, entities, government agencies, and local
government units for their outstanding performance in carrying out culturally-responsive
programs and their contribution to the realization of the policies set forth in this Act.

SECTION 14: Appropriation- The State shall ensure the regular appropriation for the programs
to be implemented by the Commission including its personnel services, maintenance and other
operating expenses and capital outlay.

The initial funding requirements for the implementation of this Act shall be charged
against the current appropriations of the agencies concerned. Thereafter, such sums as may be
necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the agencies’ yearly budgets
under the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 15: Implementing Rules- As the lead agency, the Commission shall, in coordination
with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and all concerned government
departments and agencies including, as observers, both Houses of Congress through the
relevant committees and with the participation of representatives from nongovernment
organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups with proven track record of involvement on
culture, art, education, heritage conservation and development works amongst others,
formulate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this Act within one hundred eighty
(180) days after its effectivity.


SECTION 16: Transitory Provisions- A transitory body is hereby created which shall be
composed of the Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Head of the
National Committee on Cultural Education, Executive Director of the Philippine Cultural
Education Program, Secretary of Education, Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education,
Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, Chair of the House Committee
on Education and Culture, and other representatives of other members of the Commission's
Board of Advisers.

The transitory body shall facilitate the complete and full operation of the Commission
which shall not be later than three (3) months after the effectivity of this Act. It shall likewise,
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to effectively implement the smooth and
orderly transfer to the Commission. The transition period not exceeding three (3) months shall
commence from the approval of this Act.

SECTION. 17. Separability Clause — If any section or part of this Act is held unconstitutional, no
other section or provision shall be affected.

SECTION. 18. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations,
issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are deemed repealed.

SECTION. 19. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two
(2) newspapers of general circulation.