Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE RULES ON THE CREATION, 
MODIFICATION, CHANGE AND REGISTRATION OF OFFICIAL SEALS AND 
OTHER HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 8491 OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE FLAG AND HERALDIC CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Recent events have demonstrated that specific government entities have modified 
or revamped their logos and branding strategies. These changes range from the 
rebranding of the tourism campaign as "Love the Philippines" to the contentious 
introduction of a new logo for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. 
Consequently, it is appropriate to enhance and rigorously uphold the criteria 
governing the development and alteration of official seals and logos. 
This bill aims to address the growing importance of standardized and well-
regulated visual representations of government entities. In light of recent instances 
involving changes in logos and branding campaigns of various government 
agencies, it has become apparent that a more robust and enforceable framework 
is needed to ensure the integrity, symbolism, and appropriateness of official seals 
and heraldic devices. 
The existing "Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines" (Republic Act 8491) 
already provides guidelines for the proper use of the national flag, anthem, motto, 
coat-of-arms, and other heraldic items. However, it lacks comprehensive 
provisions specifically focusing on the creation, modification, and change of official 
seals and logos of government entities. This proposed legislation seeks to fill this 
gap by introducing the amendments.
September 4, 2023
9:38 am
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On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common 
good of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
____________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE RULES ON THE CREATION, MODIFICATION, 
CHANGE AND REGISTRATION OF OFFICIAL SEALS AND OTHER HERALDIC 
ITEMS AND DEVICES OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 8491 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FLAG AND 
HERALDIC CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 8491 is hereby amended to include the 
definition of the following terms: 
"Section 3.Definition of Terms - Whenever used in this Act, the term: 
XXX  
"ADVERTISEMENT OR INFOMERCIAL" SHALL MEAN ADVERTISEMENT 
OR ANY INFORMATION MATERIAL IN PRINT, RADIO, TELEVISION, 
CINEMA, VIDEO AND THE LIKE, OUTDOOR AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA, 
SEEKING TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUALS, ENTITIES, PRODUCTS OR 
SERVICES 
FOR 
COMMERCIAL, 
POLITICAL 
PURPOSES 
OR 
INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS;  
“GOVERNMENT ENTITIES” SHALL MEAN ALL BRANCHES OF THE 
GOVERNMENT, 
ITS 
BUREAUS 
AND 
ATTACHED 
AGENCIES, 
CONSTITUTIONAL 
OFFICES, 
LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT 
UNITS, 
GOVERNMENT 
OWNED 
AND 
CONTROLLED 
CORPORATIONS, 
GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, STATE UNIVERSITIES AND 
COLLEGES, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, INCLUDING ITS 
BASIC COMPONENT UNITS; 
"HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES" SHALL MEAN COAT-OF-ARMS, 
SEALS, LOGOS, INSIGNIA, BADGES, FLASHES, PATCHES, ORDERS AND 
DECORATIONS, MEDALS, STARS, CITATIONS, LAPEL PINS, TROPHIES, 
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DRY, WAX OR WET SEALS, AND IMPRINTS ON LETTERHEADS, 
ENVELOPES AND CARDS; AND  
 
"VEXILLARY ITEMS" SHALL MEAN NATIONAL, LOCAL, HOUSE FLAGS, 
OR ADMINISTRATIVE, INSTITUTION, CORPORATE, UNIT AND OTHER 
ORGANIZATION BANNERS.  
 
SEC. 2. Section 44of Republic Act No. 8491 is hereby amended to read as follows:  
"SECTION 44. Anygovernment entityjncluding the military, may adopt 
appropriate coat-of-arms, administrative seals, logo. Insignia, badges, patches, 
banners and initiate awards, citations, orders or decorations, as may be 
authorized by the Congress or the Office of the President [.], SUBJECT TO THE 
APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL 
COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES fNHCP^"  
 
SEC. 3. Section 45 of Republic Act No. 8491 is hereby amended to read as follows:  
 
"SECTION 45.Such heraldic devices and items shall be filed with the 
[Institute]NHCP for recording and evaluation as to precedence, design, customs 
and traditions. The [Institute] NHCP shall promulgate the corresponding rules 
and regulations which shall be submitted for approval to the Office of the 
President or to Congress."  
 
SEC.4.A new Section 45-B is hereby inserted to read as follows:  
 
"SECTION 45-B. THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF DESIGN AND 
SPECIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES 
SHALL BE SUPPORTED WITH THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:  
 
A. ORDERS, OR ANY FORMS OF GRANTS, LAWS OF AUTHORITY OR 
CREATIONS;  
 
B. BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, SYMBOLISM, AND SIGNIFICANCE 
OF EVERY DESIGN COMPONENT; AND  
 
C. PHOTOGRAPHS OF EXISTING STRUCTURES, OBJECTS, SPOTS, ETC. 
TO BE INCORPORATED IN THE DESIGN."  
 
THE NHCP SHALL RECOMMEND SUCH HERALDIC DESIGN TOGETHER 
WITH THE NEEDED DOCUMENTS TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 
OR CONGRESS FOR FINAL APPROVAL.  
 
THE APPROVED DESIGN SHALL BE RETURNED TO THE NHCP FOR 
PROPER RECORDING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HERALDIC ITEMS 
AND DEVICES AND FOR TRANSMITTAL TO THE REQUESTING 
GOVERNMENT ENTITY.  
 


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SEC.5. A new Section 45-C is hereby inserted to read as follows:  
 
"SECTION 45-C. TO CONFORM TO THE BASIC HERALDIC TRADITIONS, 
THE FOLLOWING SHALL BE OBSERVED IN THE DESIGN, CREATION, 
MODIFICATION, REVISION AND APPROVAL OF  
 
HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES:  
 
A. IT MAY FEATURE EITHER ABSTRACT OR NATURAL EMBLEMS OR 
VISUALS, 
REPRESENTING 
SIGNIFICANT 
ASPECTS, 
OR 
EVENTS 
REPRESENTATIVE OR RELATED TO ITS HISTORY, MANDATES, DUTIES, 
FUNCTIONS AND VISIONS;  
 
B. COMPONENTS OF HERALDIC DESIGNS MUST FEATURE INDIGENOUS 
FILIPINO CULTURE, VALUES, HISTORY, TRADITIONS AND SENSE OF 
NATIONALISM;  
 
C. EVERY COMPONENT MUST BE RECOGNIZABLE AS IF IT IS RENDERED 
OR REDUCED TO ITS NORMAL REQUIRED SIZES;  
 
D. NO PERSONAL HERALDIC DEVICES SHALL BE ALLOWED EXCEPT 
THE SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT;  
 
E. SYMBOLS, NAMES, INITIALS, LOGOS, PICTURES, SILHOUETTES OR 
IMAGES OF LIVING PERSONS SHALL NOT BE FEATURED IN THE 
DESIGN;  
 
F. THE NAME OF THE GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR TITLE OF HERALDIC 
ITEMS AND DEVICES MUST BE IN PROMINENT POSITIONS;  
 
G. ALL HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES, INCLUDING RIBBONS OR 
SASHES, MUST BE UNIQUE FROM EACH OTHER;  
 
H. THE NATIONAL COAT-OF-ARMS, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT INCLUDE 
THE SCROLL, WHEN USED AS THE MAIN PART OR AS A COMPONENT 
OF THE SEAL, MUST OCCUPY THE PLACE OF HONOR. IT SHALL BE 
USED ONLY BY THE MAJOR BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT;  
 
I. IN USING THE NATIONAL COAT-OF-ARMS OR THE GREAT SEAL FOR 
NUMISMATIC PURPOSES, WET OR DRY SEALS AND PAINTED OR 
PRINTED IN MONOCHROME, TINCTURE REPRESENTATIONS SHALL BE 
USED;  
 
J. THE USE OF THE NATIONAL FLAG IS PROHIBITED EXCEPT WHERE 
THE FLAG HAS BECOME PART OF ITS HISTORY;  
 


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K. THE MOTTO, TITLE OR PHRASE TO BE INCORPORATED IN THE 
HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES MAY BE IN THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE 
OR IN ANY LOCAL DIALECT; AND  
L. THESE HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES SHALL NOT BE REVISED OR 
CHANGED MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TEN (10) YEARS.  
 
SEC. 6. Section 46 of Republic Act No. 8491 is hereby amended to read as follows:  
 
"Section 46. All government [offices] ENTITIES, including the military, are 
hereby ordered to purchase all [h]Heraldic [i]Items and [d]Devices from 
manufacturers accredited and authorized by the [Institute] NHCP.  
 
ENGRAVERS OR MANUFACTURERS SHALL APPLY FOR ANNUAL 
ACCREDITATION AT THE NHCP.  
 
Such items and devices shall be subject to inspection by the purchasing 
agency's internal inspector and the COA representative using the design and 
specifications approved by the Office of the President or by the Congress, 
through the [Institute] NHCP.  
 
ANY VIOLATION OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8491 OR ITS IMPLEMENTING 
RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL BE A GROUND FOR SUSPENSION, 
REVOCATION OR NON-RENEWAL OF ACCREDITATION.  
 
SEC. 7. A new Section 46-A is hereby inserted to read as follows:  
 
"SECTION 46-A. HERALDIC AND VEXILLARY DESIGNS OR ITEMS, SHALL 
NOT BE USED OR EMPLOYED FOR NUMISMATIC, PHILATELIC, 
ADVERTISEMENT OR INFOMERCIAL, OR ANY INFORMATIVE PURPOSES 
UNLESS DULY APPROVED IN WRITING BY THE NHCP."  
 
SEC. 8. Section 50 of Republic Act No. 8491 is hereby amended to read as follows:  
 
"Section 50. Any person WHO or juridical entity which violates any of the 
provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less 
than Five thousand pesos (PHP 5,000.00) nor more than Twenty Thousand 
Pesos (PHP 20,000.00) or by imprisonment [for] OF not more than one (1) year, 
or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court: Provided, That 
for any second and additional offenses, both fine and imprisonment shall always 
be imposed: Provided, further Ih^X. in case the violation is committed by a 
juridical person, its President or Chief Executive Officer thereof shall be liable.  
 
THE NHCP MAY PRESCRIBE IN THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND 
REGULATIONS OTHER ACTS OR OMISSIONS WHICH SHALL BE DEEMED 
DISRESPECTFUL, AND THUS PROHIBITED, RELATIVE TO OFFICIAL 
SEALS AND OTHER HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES.  
 


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SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The NHCP shall issue the necessary 
rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days from 
its effectivity. The NHCP shall submit its rules and regulations to the Office of the 
President and the Congress of the Philippines.  
 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause.- Any portion or provision of this Act that maybe declared 
unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying the other portions or 
provisions hereof as long as such remaining portion or provision can still subsist and 
be given effect.  
 
SEC. 11. Repealing Cause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, other issuances, part or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 12. Effectivity Cause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,