FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENA.1:E 
S. No. 
~i::!30 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13, provides: 
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The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall 
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social 
wellbeing. 
It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and 
encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
It is vitally important for school systems to ensure that their students understand, care 
about, and act upon ethical values, such as honesty, fairness, responsibility, and respect for self 
and others. 
Schools adopting intentional comprehensive approaches to character education develop 
moral and ethical values in their students and promote a more compassionate and responsible 
society. Students are less prone to violence and substance abuse, and are more community 
minded, and often more committed and successful academically when character education 
programs have been implemented. 
An increasing number of school~ and districts are taking steps to incorporate character 
education into their classrooms and school cultures. They need information on best practices, 
effective curricula, quality programs, criteria for assessing programs, and cost-effective 
opportunities (0 network nationally with each other, especially through electronic means. 
This bill seeks to establish a National Clearinghouse for Character Education.l 
I This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN1\JE 
S.No. 
~~30 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
1 ~ AUG -2 P 1 :~i!ll 
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ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL CLEARING HOUSE FOR CHARACTER EDUCATION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phi1;PPines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Commitment to Kids and 
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Character Act." 
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SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - The following terms as used in this' Ai:rshaltbe -,.-
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defined as follows: 
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(1) "Clearinghouse" refers to the National Clearinghouse for Character Education, as 
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defined in Section 3 (b) ofthis Act; 
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(2) "Organization" refers to the organization described in Section 30 (E) of the National 
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Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines and exempt from tax under Section 30 of such 
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Code; 
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(3) "Secretary" refers to the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd). 
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SECTION 3. Establishment. 
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(a) Grant - The Secretary is authorized to provide a grant to an organization, 
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which has: 
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(1) demonstrated expertise on a National level in providing comprehensive 
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and objective information services and assistance regarding character education 
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policies, programs, models of curricula, research and assessment; 
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(2) a membership .representative of individuals and groups committed to 
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providing character education; and 
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(3) demonstrated a commitment to furthering the implementation of 
quality practices in the implementation of character education programs. 
(b) Establishment of Center - The Organization shall establish and support the 
operation of a National Clearinghouse for Character Education to synthesize and 
disseminate information about character education and related programs. The 
Organization, through the Clearinghouse, shall develop programs that incorporate the 
following elements of character: 
(1) Caring. 
(2) Civic virtue and citizenship. 
(3) Justice and fairness. 
(4) Respect. 
(5) Responsibility. 
(6) Honesty. 
(7) Any other elements considered appropriate by the Organization. 
SECTION 4. Functions. - The Organization, through the Clearinghouse, shall: 
(1) develop a searchable database that contains background and contact 
information on the leading character education groups, curricula, books, programs, and 
videos; 
(2) make available information on best practices; 
(3) make available models of professional development in character education; 
(4) make available research findings on the effectiveness of various approaches 
and programs; 
(5) make available information on available assessment tools and instruments; 
(6) make available information on leading character education groups nationally 
and the services they provide; 
(7) collect and make available information regarding how character education can 
be integrated into national content and performance standards for the various academic 
subj ects and incorporated in other educational reform efforts; 
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(8) make available a checklist of criteria for users to assess the appropriateness of 
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particular character education curricula to their needs; 
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(9) provide a network of government-sponsored websites on character education; 
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(10) make available any other information that may be helpful to character 
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educators in implementing programs; and 
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(11) provide telephone assistance. 
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SECTION 5. Report. - The Organization shall submit to the Secretary an annual report 
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that: 
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(1) specifies the number of people who request information from the 
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Clearinghouse and the types of information requested; and 
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(2) identifies unmet and future information needs III the field of character 
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education. 
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SECTION 6. Appropriations.·- Such snms as may be necessary for the initial 
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implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current appropriations of the Department of 
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Education (DepEd). Thereafter, the fund necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be 
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included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
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provisions ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause: - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/ptmt05july2010 
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