NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session 
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SENATE
s.B. No. 2^84
of tlje rtvsi'p
23 AUG “1 P2-42
RtCElVcD BV;
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE RULES ON THE CREATION, MODIFICATION, 
CHANGE AND REGISTRATION OF OFFICIAL SEALS AND OTHER HERALDIC 
ITEMS AND DEVICES OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8491 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "FLAG 
AND HERALDIC CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Official seals and logos of government offices embody our national ideals, 
sentiments and aspirations. They are a means of strengthening people's nationalism, 
love of country, and pride for people's accomplishments. In a practical sense, official 
seals and logos are an important means of identifying a particular government 
agency and of recognizing the duties they perform.
Recent developments show that certain government agencies made changes to or 
redesigned their logos and branding campaigns - from the new "Love the 
Philippines" tourism campaign rebranding to the controversial new logo of the 
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. Thus, it is only fitting that the 
standards for the creation and changing of official seals and logos be strengthened 
and strictly enforced.


This bill aims to strengthen the rules on the creation, modification and registration of 
official seals and other heraldic items and devices of government entities to ensure 
that official seals and logos convey national ideals and traditions that express the 
principles of sovereignty and national solidarity.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARIA LOURDES NANCY S. BINAY


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s.B. No. 2384
^EUnti;
of t'Uf fci’i.. PKli’p
23 AUG-1 P2-42
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE RULES ON THE CREATION, MODIFICATION, 
CHANGE AND REGISTRATION OF OFFICIAL SEALS AND OTHER HERALDIC 
ITEMS AND DEVICES OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 8491 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "FLAG AND 
HERALDIC CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES"
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1.Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8491 is hereby amended to include 
the definition of the followingterms:
"Section 3.Definition of Terms - Whenever used in this Act, the term:
XXX
MEAN
PRINT,
"ADVERTISEMENT OR INFOMERCIAL" SHALL 
ADVERTISEMENT OR ANY INFORMATION MATERIAL IN 
RADIO, TELEVISION, CINEMA, VIDEO AND THE LIKE, OUTDOOR 
AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA, SEEKING TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUALS, 
ENTITIES, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES FOR COMMERCIAL, POLITICAL 
PURPOSES OR INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS;
"GOVERNMENT ENTITIES" SHALL MEAN ALL BRANCHES OF THE 
GOVERNMENT, ITS BUREAUS AND ATTACHED AGENCIES, 
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, 
GOVERNMENT OWNED AND CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS, 
GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, STATE UNIVERSITIES


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AND COLLEGES, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, INCLUDING 
ITS BASIC COMPONENT UNITS;
"HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES" SHALL MEAN COAT-OF-ARMS, 
SEALS, LOGOS, INSIGNIA, BADGES, FLASHES, PATCHES, ORDERS 
AND DECORATIONS, MEDALS, STARS, CITATIONS, LAPEL PINS, 
TROPHIES, DRY, WAX OR WET SEALS, AND IMPRINTS ON 
LETTERHEADS, ENVELOPES AND CARDS; AND
"VEXILLARY ITEMS" SHALL MEAN NATIONAL, LOCAL, HOUSE FLAGS, 
OR ADMINISTRATIVE, INSTITUTION, CORPORATE, UNIT AND 
OTHER ORGANIZATION BANNERS.
SEC. 2. Section 44of Republic Act No. 8491 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"SECTION 44. Anygovernment entityjncluding the military, may adopt 
appropriate coat-of-arms, administrative seals, logo. Insignia, badges, 
patches, banners and initiate awards, citations, orders or decorations, as may 
be authorized by the Congress or the Office of the President [.], SUBJECT 
TO THE APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE NATIONAL
HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES fNHCP^"
SEC. 3. Section 45 of Republic Act No. 8491 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"SECTION 45.Such heraldic devices and items shall be filed with the 
[Institute]NHCP for recording and evaluation as to precedence, design, 
customs and traditions. The [Institute] NHCP shall promulgate the 
corresponding rules and regulations which shall be submitted for approval to 
the Office of the President or to Congress."
SEC.4.A new Section 45-B is hereby inserted to read as follows:
"SECTION 45-B. THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF DESIGN AND 
SPECIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES 
SHALL BE SUPPORTED WITH THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:
A. ORDERS, OR ANY FORMS OF GRANTS, LAWS OF AUTHORITY OR 
CREATIONS;


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B. BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, SYMBOLISM, AND
SIGNIFICANCE OF EVERY DESIGN COMPONENT; AND
C. PHOTOGRAPHS OF EXISTING STRUCTURES, OBJECTS, SPOTS,
ETC. TO BE INCORPORATED IN THE DESIGN."
THE NHCP SHALL RECOMMEND SUCH HERALDIC DESIGN TOGETHER 
WITH THE NEEDED DOCUMENTS TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 
OR CONGRESS FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
THE APPROVED DESIGN SHALL BE RETURNED TO THE NHCP FOR 
PROPER RECORDING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HERALDIC 
ITEMS AND DEVICES AND FOR TRANSMITTAL TO THE REQUESTING 
GOVERNMENT ENTITY.
SEC.5. A new Section 45-C is hereby inserted to read as follows:
"SECTION 45-C. TO CONFORM TO THE BASIC HERALDIC 
TRADITIONS, THE FOLLOWING SHALL BE OBSERVED IN THE 
DESIGN, CREATION, MODIFICATION, REVISION AND APPROVAL OF 
HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES:
A. IT MAY FEATURE EITHER ABSTRACT OR NATURAL EMBLEMS 
OR VISUALS, REPRESENTING SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS, OR 
EVENTS REPRESENTATIVE OR RELATED TO ITS HISTORY, 
MANDATES, DUTIES, FUNCTIONS AND VISIONS;
B. COMPONENTS OF HERALDIC DESIGNS MUST FEATURE 
INDIGENOUS FILIPINO CULTURE, VALUES, HISTORY, 
TRADITIONS AND SENSE OF NATIONALISM;
C. EVERY COMPONENT MUST BE RECOGNIZABLE AS IF IT IS 
RENDERED OR REDUCED TO ITS NORMAL REQUIRED SIZES;
D. NO PERSONAL HERALDIC DEVICES SHALL BE ALLOWED 
EXCEPT THE SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE 
PRESIDENT;
E. SYMBOLS, NAMES, INITIALS, LOGOS, PICTURES, 
SILHOUETTES OR IMAGES OF LIVING PERSONS SHALL NOT BE 
FEATURED IN THE DESIGN;


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F. THE NAME OF THE GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR TITLE OF 
HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES MUST BE IN PROMINENT 
POSITIONS;
G. ALL HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES, INCLUDING RIBBONS 
OR SASHES, MUST BE UNIQUE FROM EACH OTHER;
H. THE NATIONAL COAT-OF-ARMS, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT 
INCLUDE THE SCROLL, WHEN USED AS THE MAIN PART OR AS 
A COMPONENT OF THE SEAL, MUST OCCUPY THE PLACE OF 
HONOR. IT SHALL BE USED ONLY BY THE MAJOR BRANCHES 
OF THE GOVERNMENT;
I. IN USING THE NATIONAL COAT-OF-ARMS OR THE GREAT SEAL 
FOR NUMISMATIC PURPOSES, WET OR DRY SEALS AND 
PAINTED OR PRINTED IN MONOCHROME, TINCTURE 
REPRESENTATIONS SHALL BE USED;
J. THE USE OF THE NATIONAL FLAG IS PROHIBITED EXCEPT 
WHERE THE FLAG HAS BECOME PART OF ITS HISTORY;
K. THE MOTTO, TITLE OR PHRASE TO BE INCORPORATED IN THE 
HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES MAY BE IN THE NATIONAL 
LANGUAGE OR IN ANY LOCAL DIALECT; AND
L. THESE HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES SHALL NOT BE 
REVISED OR CHANGED MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TEN (10) 
YEARS.
SEC. 6. Section 46 of Republic Act No. 8491 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Section 46. All government [offices] ENTITIES, including the military, are 
hereby ordered to purchase all [hJHeraldic [ijitems and [dJDevices from 
manufacturers accredited and authorized by the [Institute] NHCP.
ENGRAVERS OR MANUFACTURERS SHALL APPLY FOR ANNUAL 
ACCREDITATION AT THE NHCP.
Such items and devices shall be subject to inspection by the purchasing 
agency's internal inspector and the COA representative using the design and 
specifications approved by the Office of the President or by the Congress, 
through the [Institute] NHCP.


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ANY VIOLATION OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8491 OR ITS 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL BE A GROUND 
FOR SUSPENSION, REVOCATION OR NON-RENEWAL OF 
ACCREDITATION.
SEC. 7. A new Section 46-A is hereby inserted to read as follows:
"SECTION 46-A. HERALDIC AND VEXILLARY DESIGNS OR ITEMS, 
SHALL NOT BE USED OR EMPLOYED FOR NUMISMATIC, PHILATELIC, 
ADVERTISEMENT OR INFOMERCIAL, OR ANY INFORMATIVE 
PURPOSES UNLESS DULY APPROVED IN WRITING BY THE NHCP."
SEC. S.Section 50 of Republic Act No. 8491 is hereby amended to read as 
follows:
"Section 50. Any person WHO or juridical entity which violates any of the 
provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less 
than Five thousand pesos (PHP 5,000.00) nor more than Twenty Thousand 
Pesos (PHP 20,000.00) or by imprisonment [for] OF not more than one (1) 
year, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court: 
Provided, That for any second and additional offenses, both fine and 
imprisonment shall always be imposed: Provided, further Ih^X. in case the 
violation is committed by a juridical person, its President or Chief Executive 
Officer thereof shall be liable.
THE NHCP MAY PRESCRIBE IN THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND 
REGULATIONS OTHER ACTS OR OMISSIONS WHICH SHALL BE 
DEEMED DISRESPECTFUL, AND THUS PROHIBITED, RELATIVE TO 
OFFICIAL SEALS AND OTHER HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES.
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The NHCP shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act within sixty 
(60) days from its effectivity. The NHCP shall submit its rules and regulations to the 
Office of the President and the Congress of the Philippines.
SEC. 10. Separability Clause.- Any portion or provision of this Act that maybe 
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying the other 
portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portion or provision can still 
subsist and be given effect.


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SEC. 11. Repealing Cause. - All lawsAdecrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations, other issuances,part or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of
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this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 12. Effectivity Cause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
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circulation.
Approved,