Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _____
Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN LEGARDA
AN ACT
PRESCRIBING THE USE OF NEO-ETHNIC PHILIPPINE TEXTILES IN THE
ACADEMIC REGALIA OF ALL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
Explanatory Note
The academic regalia of state universities and colleges of the Philippines is
based on the Western toga. In the 1990s, the University of the Philippines, initiated
the use of the so-called “sablay” bearing the university’s insignia and colors as the
academic regalia for UP graduates instead of the conventional black toga. The
primary motivation includes the comfort factor where black togas for temperate
countries are rather uncomfortable and impractical in Philippine setting. Moreover,
the need to distinguish UP as a Philippine university from other universities in the
world and other official academic activities could not be over-emphasized.
To provide an opportunity to launch and distinguish graduates of all Philippine
universities and colleges wearing academic regalia that is notably Filipino, this bill
seeks to establish the Philippine Academic Regalia Council (PARC) which shall
formulate the National Academic Regalia Policy that shall review, standardize, and
adopt academic regalia for graduates, administrators, faculty, and awardees of state
universities and colleges. The proposed bill will also allow these educational
institutions to give back to the community by using and wearing academic costumes
made of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles within their locality. The academic regalia of
the Philippines must have a mark of Filipino culture worthy of a trophy by being an
authentic Philippine textile, reflective and proud of the heritage and ethnicity of the
community where it came from. This will then nurture and perpetuate the production
of these textiles in the countryside, preserve culture, provide jobs, and loop the cycle
of goodwill within and among the graduates who were “sent” to school by the same
Filipino people who will directly benefit from the energized textile sector. In sum, the
proposed measure will ensure rural development, cultural preservation, inclusive
growth,
women
empowerment,
and
sustained production of truly neo-ethnic
Philippine textiles.
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July 2, 2021
4:00 pm
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In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA
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Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _____
Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN LEGARDA
AN ACT
PRESCRIBING THE USE OF NEO-ETHNIC PHILIPPINE TEXTILES IN THE
ACADEMIC REGALIA OF ALL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
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 “Philippine Academic
Regalia Act of 2021”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to instill patriotism and
nationalism among the people, particularly young graduates of state colleges and
universities who, at all times, shall be loyal to the Republic and the Filipino people.
Towards this end, there is a need to prescribe the use of neo-ethnic Philippine
textiles in the academic regalia of all state universities and colleges through the
enactment of the “Philippine Academic Regalia Act”.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.
(a) Academic regalia are the official garb worn by university officials, faculty,
graduates, and awardees during graduation, commencement  exercises,
and other academic functions; and;
(b) Neo-ethnic Philippine textiles are those made of or containing natural or
indigenous materials, sourced and/or produced in the Philippines using
updated, relevant, and green scientific and technological approaches and
innovations, while integrating and/or retaining traditional patterns, designs,
icons, motifs and/or approaches, and thus, contributing to livelihood
generation and sustaining the local handloom weaving and textile heritage.
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SEC. 4. Creation of the Philippine Academic Regalia Council.– The Philippine
Academic Regalia Council (PARC), hereinafter referred to as the “Council”, is hereby
created, which shall be headed by the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher
Educations (CHED) as Chairman, and the Head of the Philippine Textile Research
Institute
of
the
Department
of
Science
and
Technology
(DOST-PTRI),
as
Co-chairman. The following shall be its members:
(a) A representative from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts
(NCCA);
(b) A representative from the Philippine Association of State Universities and
Colleges (PASUC);
(c) A representative from the University of the Philippines System (U.P.); and
(d) A representative from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the PARC.– The Council shall have the following
powers and functions:
(a) Formulates the National Academic Regalia Policy;
(b) Reviews,
standardizes,
and
adopts
academic
regalia
for
graduates,
administrators, faculty, and awardees of state universities and colleges;
(c) Ensures sustainability, quality control, and availability of yarns, dyes, and
loom parts;
(d) Proposes ways to incorporate neo-ethnic textiles in the academic regalia;
(e) Formulates a handbook for the academic regalia for appropriate use,
protection, trade and management;
(f) Protects intellectual property rights as regards design silhouettes, textile
pattern, color, and textile specification for the academic regalia; and
(g) Oversees the adoption of this bill and studies its sustainability while also
addressing
issues
regarding
quality
control,
supply,
appropriate
use,
protection, trade and management, and intellectual property security.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations.– Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in consultation
with the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) of the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA),
the University of the Philippines (U.P.), and the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI),
shall
issue
the
necessary
Rules
and
Regulations
for
the
effective
implementation of this Act.
SEC. 7. Appropriations.–To implement the provisions of this Act, the initial amount
of Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) is hereby authorized to be appropriated from
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the National Treasury. Such other amounts as may subsequently be necessary for its
operation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
SEC. 8. Separability Clause.– If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting.
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause.– All laws, rules and regulations or parts thereof,
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause.– This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
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