REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3062

House Bill No.

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raymond V. Palatino

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 11 of the Philippine Constitution declares that the State values the
dignity of every person and guarantees full respect for human rights. The principles and
values of human rights that are enshrined in the Philippine Constitution and international
covenants, however, are rendered hollow and meaningless when the citizens are not
informed of their rights and when human rights violations continue to occur.

‘The human rights situation in the Philippines took a serious beating during the past
decade. According to human rights group Karapatan, human-rights atrocities and
violations continuously occurred, victimizing thousands of Filipinos particularly those who
are critical of the government's economic policies and of the rampant corruption in the
bureaucracy.

Karapatan noted in its 2009 report that from the time Former President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001 up to October 2009, there are a total of
1,118 victims of extrajudicial killings and 204 who have been forcibly disappeared and are
still missing.

Aside from the rampant violations of the civil and political rights, the past
government’s grim human rights record is also manifest in the economic, social and
cultural realm. More than three decades after the Philippines ratified the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the rights of millions of Fi
increasingly being neglected and undermined such as the right to education, decent jobs,

health, food and other social services, and adequate standard of living, among others.

Amidst this backdrop, there is a pressing and serious need for the government to
educate its citizens, especially the youth, on their civil, political, economic, social and



cultural rights. This role is stipulated in the Constitution, which specifically calls for all
educational institutions to “inculcate... respect for human rights” and in the mandate of the
Commission of Human Rights, which is tasked to “establish a continuing program of
research, education, and information to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights.”

At present, the subject “Human Rights” is being taught by Philippine schools only on
a voluntary basis. Thus, this bill seeks to make human rights subjects a mandatory part of
the curriculum of all education institutions in the country.

In the face of the country’s human rights situation, it is high time that the importance
of human rights be inculcated in our youth. In light of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is
earnestly sought.

Hon. ond V. Palatino
Representativ¢, Kabataan Party-List



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3062

House Bill No.____

Introduced by KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raymond V. Palatino

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY STUDY OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE
CURRICULA OF ALL LEVELS OF SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY
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 “Human Rights Education Act of
2010."

SECTION 2. Human rights education. ~ All public and private schools shall include in.
their curricula courses, subjects and/or special lectures on human rights. No school shall
be established or allowed to operate unless this requirement is complied with,

SECTION 3. The Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education, in
consultation and close coordination with the Commission on Human Rights and various
non-government organizations, advocacy groups and human rights organizations, shall
formulate courses, subjects and/or special lectures on human rights to be taught as
separate courses or incorporated in existing subjects now being taught in all levels of
education throughout the country.

SECTION 4. The Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education shall
also consult and coordinate with the Commission on Human Rights and various non-
government organizations, advocacy groups and human rights organizations, in the writing,
printing and publication of textbooks, manuals and other reading materials to be used in
the human rights courses.

SECTION 8. This Act shall be implemented initially within the framework of the budget of
the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and state universities and
colleges for the year it is enacted into law. As far as practicable, the funds required therefor


shall be drawn from its appropriations for policy formulation, program planning, standards
development and instructional materials development.

‘Thereafter, such amounts as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be
included in the budget of the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education
and state universities and colleges in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. Implementating Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd and CHED shall
promulgate and issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations within thirty (30)
days after the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,