NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.
24 MAY “6 A10 *49
RlICEiVilD BV:
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF RIZAL AS A NATURALIST AND 
MEDICAL DOCTOR IN THE TEACHING OF RIZAL IN ALL PUBLIC AND 
PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES, AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
RIZAL LAW
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Rizal Law, or Republic Act No. 1425 was debated heavily when it was 
passed in 1956. Since then, the teaching of Jose Rizal's novels in both high school and 
college has been a means for students to appreciate Jose Rizal.
However, the specificity of the Rizal Law in naming the novels as the major 
focus of Rizal studies has left the other aspects of Rizal's life and work to be little 
studied and even less appreciated.
Recent innovations in communication as well as the participation of the 
creative industries in the dissemination of the life and works of our greatest patriot 
and renaissance man have bolstered the nation's appreciation of Rizal. Maria Clara at 
Ibarra, a recent television series that sought to humanize Rizal's characters, as well as 
numerous plays, conferences, and academic discussions on other aspects of Rizal's life 
and works have caused a resurgence in interest.
Recent focus on the last four years of his life spent in exile in Dapitan also 
brought up the lack of further investigation as to his medical practice and his 
naturalist teachings as well as the curriculum at the school he established there.


Hence a renewed interest in Jose Rizal and his imagining of a great Filipino 
nation is needed and government support for such studies and teaching is long 
overdue.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
LORE^XEGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
of ll)p ft't
24 MAY-6 A10 ;49
RliCEIVfcD BV:
SENATE
S. No. 2653
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF RIZAL AS A NATURALIST 
AND MEDICAL DOCTOR IN THE TEACHING OF RIZAL IN ALL PUBLIC 
AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE RIZAL LAW
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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Section 1. Section 1 of Act No. 1425 is hereby further amended to read as
follows:
"SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, 
INCLUDING HIS SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS AS A NATURALIST 
AND MEDICAL DOCTOR, HIS CORRESPONDENCE, AND HIS 
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN DAPITAN, AND particularly his novel Noli Me 
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, 
colleges and universities, public or private: Provided, That in the collegiate 
courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El 
Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be used as basic texts.
The Board of National Education DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DEPED) 
is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to implement 
and carry out the provisions of this Section, including the writing and printing 
of appropriate primers, readers and textbooks, INCENTIVIZATION OF


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RESEARCH AND FURTHER INQUIRY, AND THE INTEGRATION OF
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CULTURE, ARTS AND NATURE AS RIZAL DEMONSTRATED IN HIS
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LIFE. The Board DEPARTMENT shall, within sixty (60) days from the
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effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those of a
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disciplinary nature, to carry out, UPDATE and enforce the provisions of this
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Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations providing for the
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exemption of students for reasons of religious belief stated in a sworn written
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statement, from the requirement of the provision contained in the second part
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of the first paragraph of this section; but not from taking the course provided
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for in the first part of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take effect
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thirty (30) days after their publication in the Official Gazette."
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Sec. 2. XXX
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Sec. 3. Section 3 of Act No. 1425 is hereby further amended to read as follows:
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SECTION 3. The DEPED AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER
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EDUCATION (CHED) Board ofNationaTEducation shall cause the translation of the
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Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into
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English, FILIPINO Tagalog and the principal Philippine LANGUAGES dialects;
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cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed,
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free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the SCHOOL AND
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MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES AND BARANGAY READING CENTERS Purok
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organizations and Barrio Councils throughout the country.
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Sec. 4. A NEW SECTION, SECTION 3A SHALL READ AS FOLLOWS:
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SECTION 3.A. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. THE CONTINUING
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STUDY ON THE LIFE OF RIZAL SHALL BE INCENTIVIZED AT ALL LEVELS
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AND INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, HIS LITERARY WRITINGS, HIS
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CORRESPONDENCE, HIS SCIENTIFIC WRITINGS AND HIS PHYSICAL
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTS, SUCH AS THE DAPITAN WATERWORKS
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AND RELIEF MAP, SPECIMENS SUBMITTED IN INSTITUTIONS ABROAD, AS
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WELL AS ACADEMIC STUDIES ON HOW RIZAL IMAGINED THE FILIPINO
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NATIONS AS EXTRACTED FROM HIS LIFE AND WORKS.


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THE DEPED AND THE CHED SHALL COLLABORATE WITH THE
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NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NHCP) AND
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THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES (NMP) FOR THE
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FURTHERANCE AND DISSEMINATION OF SUCH RESEARCH. IN THE
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FULFILLMENT OF THEIR DUTIES UNDER THIS COLLABORATION, THE
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NHCP AND THE NMP SHALL UNDERTAKE TO REPATRIATE SPECIMENS
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AND ARTIFACTS CONNECTED TO RIZAL OR SENT BY HIM TO MUSEUMS
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AND COLLECTIONS ABROAD.
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Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within thirty (30) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the
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Commissioner of Internal Revenue, shall promulgate the necessary rules and
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regulations for its effective implementation.
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Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional
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or invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid.
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules
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and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with this Act
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are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the
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Philippines.
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Approved,