WOUSE WF REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines rahern
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE! pare, 29 AUG 2016
Quezon City TS

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REGISTRATION UNIT

, HOUSE BILL No, 83826 | BLS a0) sof x seavioe

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Introduced by Honorable Rosenda Ann Ocampo

EXPLANATORY NOTE
‘The 1987 Philippine Constitution under Article 2, Section 13, provides:

“The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and
shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and
social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism,
and encourage their involvement in public and civie affairs.”

Article 14, Section 3 (2) further provides:

“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.”

Youth participation in public affairs upholds the democratic ethos of our country. It is
inherent in a democratic country that all citizens participate in decision- and policy- making
processes. According to a paper published by the Cambodia Development Resource Institute,
youth participation is beneficial for the development of the entire community or society, and
for the promotion of civic and political life of young people.

Youth participation helps develop the community primarily because the youth
comprises more than one-third of our country’s population. To exclude the youth from the


democratic process is to deprive a substantial number of the population of an opportunity to
decide on matters affecting not only their interests, but those of future generations as well.

Aside from contributing to the community, youth participation aids in their individual
development. Involvement in public and civic affairs allows them to have a deeper
understanding of the rights accorded to them and the duties expected of them. They become
more critical of crucial social issues and more capable of addressing them.

It becomes incumbent upon the legislature to encourage youth participation.

Youth participation in the democratic process is promoted by educating the youth of
the very foundation of democracy ~ the right to vote. The United Nations defines voter
education as “the dissemination of information, materials and programmes designed to
inform voters about the specifics and mechanics of the voting process for a particular
election. Voter education involves providing information on who is eligible to vote; where
and how to register; how electors can check the voter lists to ensure they have been duly
included; what type of elections are being held; where, when and how to vote; who the
candidates are; and how to file complaints.”

The sad proliferation of vote buying hardly absent in our electoral process has
alarming consequences.

In a background paper published by the Intemational Institute for Democracy and
Electoral Assistance, it stated, “Civic education in school and universities needs 10 be
encouraged as a central element to foster the political participation of young people.”

Educating the youth through formal instruction of the right to vote and of the electoral
system that safeguards such is one of the most effective approach to ensure that they are
aware of how to contribute to nation-building, and that they act according to such knowledge.

This bill seeks to integrate voter education in the junior and senior high school

curricula with the aim of encouraging our students to become active citizens and of arousing
their interest in safeguarding the integrity of our electoral system.

SENDA ANN O€AMPO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3326

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by Honorable Rosenda Ann Ocampo

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 “Compulsory Voter
Education Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to enlighten
citizens on their right to vote and to inculcate in them the duty to preserve the integrity of the
electoral process through the educational system.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the term:

“Voter Education” means dissemination of information, materials and
programmes designed to inform citizens about the specifics and mechanics of
the voting process. It includes providing information on the right to suffrage,
its importance, and the proper exercise thereof, as well as information on who
is eligible to vote; where and how to register; how electors can check the voter
lists to ensure they have been duly included; what type of elections are being
held; where, when and how to vote; who the candidates are; and how to file
complaints.

SECTION 4. Integration of Voter Education in the Junior and Senior High School
Curricula, Voter Education shall be integrated by the Department of Education (DepEd) in
the junior and senior high school curricula, effective at the start of the school year


immediately following one year from the effectivity of this Act. The Commission on
Elections (COMELEC) shall assist DepEd in preparing teachers during the one-year
transition period by conducting seminars and trainings, and who is qualified to teach topics
relating to the electoral system and process.

SECTION 5. Voter Education Syllabus. — The main syllabus shall include, but not
be limited to, the following thematic areas:

(a) Suffrage — This area introduces to students the right to vote accorded by the
Constitution, and other rights enabling citizens to participate in the conduct of public
affairs;

(b) Electoral system and process — This area deals with the general principles underlying
the present electoral system, and legislation regulating all the phases of election
namely, pre- election, election proper, and post-election. It discusses the proper
conduct of elections including registration, casting of ballots, and counting of votes;

(©) Educated voting- This area focuses on the attitude and behavior a voter must adopt to
ensure fair, free, and honest elections. It emphasizes the importance of participating in
elections in a manner that shall stimulate and strengthen democracy;

(4) Supplementary Topics ~ This curriculum shall have additional topics and studies on
the political system of the country, the contextual background of elections, current

1, social, and economic issues affecting the elections, and the possible
solutions to address them; and

(©) Other Subject Matters- Other areas of voter education may be included in the
syllabus.

SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. — The Secretary of DepEd is hereby authorized
and directed to adopt a system to implement and carry out the provisions of this Act. The
Secretary of DepEd shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate
the rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the
provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Educational Materials. — It shall be obligatory on all schools offering
secondary education to keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of the textbooks,
primers, and leaflets on voter education to be issued by the DepEd. The DepEd shall
determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending upon the enrolment of the school.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or
inconsistent with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.


SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

APPROVED.