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

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

7014

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Last December 14, 2017, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was reported
to have lamented that Filipinos were “not ready” for a federal form of
government. During the Christmas Party for the Malacanang Press Corps,
the President conceded that federalism was not catching fire in places where
he had expected strong public support. He said that the federal set-up does
not seem to ring a bell in the Visayas and Mindanao. Nonetheless, he vowed
that his administration would still push for a federal form of government in
the country as this would resolve the long-pestering secessionist conflict in
Mindanao.

It is not difficult, however, to understand why there has not been a
groundswell of support for federalism. It is a system of governance that is
new to most Filipinos who have never experienced any political system
other than a unitary or highly centralized form of governance. Compounding
the problem is the fact that there is no “standard federal form of
government” in the world — each country with a federal set-up has
distinctive characteristics adapted or suited to its own political realities or
dynamics. To illustrate, the system prevailing in the Federal Republic of
Germany is different from the one in place in the United States of America
or those being practiced in Malaysia and Australia.

On the other hand, when it comes to the parliamentary form of
government, the Philippines had a very brief experience under that set-up
during the Marcos-Virata period. And similar to the federalist question,
proponents have to make a choice which to adopt as between the British or
the French model.


If the federal-parliamentary form of government is to take root in the
Philippines, it is indispensable that policy-makers institutionalize a massive
information program to familiarize Filipinos as to the merits of this laudable
social experimentation. More fundamentally, it is vital to integrate in the
formal education sector the teaching of this ground-breaking form of public
administration. A mandatory subject in the higher education curriculum on
“Modern Political Systems”, that would focus on federalism and the
parliamentary form of governance, would be a first step in orienting our
countrymen as to the mechanics of this political innovation.

It is important to bear in mind, however, that the proposed new
required course in the tertiary level should be separate and distinct from all
the other existing subjects in political science or public administration. If we
need to remember the lessons learned in the mandatory teaching of the Rizal
course, when colleges resorted to teaching the life, works and writings of our
national hero merely as part of the “Philippine Government and History” or
the “Philippine Constitution and Government” subjects in the general
education course, only a cursory knowledge of Dr. Jose Rizal was attained
among students. When too much material is compressed into a subject
designed to be completed within one semester, the noble objectives of our
educational system could only be compromised.

The present collegiate courses in political science and public
administration offer a scant acquaintance and shallow familiarity with
federalism and parliamentary systems. In their attempts to provide an
overview or a grand sweep of ideas on democracy, freedoms, political
economy, etc., these subjects could not afford to provide the Filipino youth a
working knowledge of the complex concepts of federalism and
parliamentary governance. On the other hand, political leaders and their staff
nowadays are being called upon to attend multiple symposia, seminars and
lectures on federalism. These, however, are mere crash courses which, at
best, could only offer a segmented or disjointed view of the federalist
paradigm. If federalism is to become engrafted or ingrained into the political
culture of Filipinos, the same could only be attained through measured or
calculated steps. We need to build a momentum first and, thereafter, sustain
that momentum so that federalist values could seep into the consciousness of
our countrymen. We are in for the long haul, so to speak. And that steady
momentum could only be built up through the formal educational system.


In order to ensure therefore the success of the federalist experiment, it
is imperative that we make a thorough or in-depth study of that new political
template an integral part of our formal school system.

In view of all the foregoing considerations, the early approval of this
bill is earnestly requested.

pat 3)

JOAQUIN M. CHIPECO, JR.
ésentative
econd District of Laguna



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

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7014

Introduced by Honorable Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
(CHED) TO INCLUDE A COURSE ON MODERN POLITICAL
SYSTEMS, WITH EMPHASIS ON FEDERALISM AND
PARLIAMENTARY FORMS OF GOVERNMENT, AS A
MANDATORY SUBJECT IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION
CURRICULUM

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 “Modern
Political Systems Studies Act.”

SEC. 2. Higher Education Curriculum. — For purposes of this Act,
the term “higher education curriculum” shall refer to the general education

curriculum designed for students taking up courses leading to a degree.

SEC. 3. Inclusion of a Course on “Modern Political Systems” as a

Mandatory Subject in the Higher Education Curriculum. — Pursuant to its


mandate under Republic Act 7722 or the “Higher Education Act of 1994”,
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is hereby mandated to
develop a course on “Modern Political Systems” as a mandatory subject in

the higher education curriculum.

Further, the CHED shall encourage the preparation and publication of
textbooks and other instructional materials in support of the objectives of

this Act.

SEC. 4. Course Content. — In the process of curriculum development
and the preparation and publication of textbooks and other pertinent reading
materials on Modern Political Systems, the CHED shall ensure that
emphasis would be given to the teaching of federalism, parliamentary forms
of government and other aspects of modern governance. The subject
“Modern Political Systems” shall be separate and distinct from all other
existing courses on political science and public administration, and shall not

in any manner be absorbed, merged with or subsumed under the latter.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Chairperson of
the CHED shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the

effective implementation of this Act.


SEC. 6. Repealing clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended

accordingly.

SEC.7.  Effectivity clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2)

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,