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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._ 7883

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.

Set ee )
JOAQUIN M. CHIPECO, JR.
~ Representative
IG _-CLone District, Calamba City



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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, _ 2883

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,