Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by Rep. MARIO VITTORIO “MARVEY” A. MARIÑO 
5th District, Batangas 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Nelson Mandela once said that education is the most powerful weapon which one 
can use to change the world.  It is for this reason that education has always been a 
constant priority of the governments of the world. Education is seen as the key to 
fighting corruption. In this day and age, corruption is not just a problem. It can also be 
seen as the result of a much bigger problem—the lack of a strong moral foundation. 
The importance of character formation is evident in education. Thus, education has 
been deemed an effective tool in nurturing one’s ethical behavior. 
The primary purpose of schooling includes cognitive development and character 
formation.1 The role of educational institution in cognitive development and character 
formation is expressly recognized in our own Constitution. Article XIV, Section 3 (2) 
of the 1987 Constitution provides: 
All educational institutions shall inculcate patriotism 
and nationalism, foster love of humanity, respect for human 
rights, appreciation of the role of national heroes in the 
historical development of the country, teach the rights and 
duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, 
develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage 
critical and creative thinking, broaden scientific and 
technological knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency. 
It is the latter that this bill seeks to further develop. Character formation helps shape 
attitudes and behaviors, reflected in such values as honesty, integrity, respect, 
responsibility, self-discipline, and reliability;  ‘cognitive-academic’ and ‘character 
development’ prepares students for work, for further education, for lifelong learning 
and for citizenship.2  
It is clear, therefore, that schools are obliged to guarantee knowledgeable 
individuals of good character especially in an environment where not only is corruption 
1 Michael, O. CHARACTER AND MORAL EDUCATION: A TOOL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION, 
retrieved February 23, 2017 from http://www.eacc.go.ke/PRESSRELEASES.ASP?ID=418&cat=speeches 
2 Ibid. 
July 1, 2022 
12:25 pm
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a major problem but also one which is embedded in our culture. It is for this reason that 
reforms, like the adoption of programs for values education and anti-corruption 
modules for elementary and high school students, in our educational system were 
introduced. As time went by, however, these reforms were considered ineffectual. 
This bill seeks to address the inefficacy of the previous reforms by creating a more 
defined course on Ethics and make it compulsory at all levels of elementary and 
secondary education, at every college, and a compulsory course for every profession.  
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MARIO VITTORIO “MARVEY” A. MARIÑO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by Rep. MARIO VITTORIO “MARVEY” A. MARIÑO 
5th District, Batangas 
AN ACT MAKING A SEPARATE COURSE ON ETHICS 
COMPULSORY 
AT 
ALL 
LEVELS 
OF 
ELEMENTARY 
AND 
SECONDARY EDUCATION, AND IN EVERY DEGREE COURSE IN 
ALL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
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 “Compulsory Teaching of 
Ethics Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to inculcate and 
strengthen the ethics and values of its citizens through the educational system. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
A. Ethics – conformity to the accepted, honorable, and professional standards of
conduct in government and in private life;
B. Values – normative standards which influence human beings in their choice
among their alternative courses of action;
C. DepEd – Department of Education;
D. CHED – Commission on Higher Education;
E. Elementary Education – the second stage of compulsory basic education which
is composed of six (6) years. The entrant age to this level is typically six (6)
years old;
F. Bridge Program – an intensive one-year program focused on three foundation
subjects namely English, Science, and Math. It enables students to become fully
prepared for secondary education curriculum;
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G. Secondary Education – refers to the third stage of compulsory basic education. 
It consists of four (4) year junior high school education and two (2) years of 
senior high school education. The entrant age to the junior and senior high 
school levels are typically twelve (12) and sixteen (16) years old, respectively; 
and 
 
H. University – all institutions for higher learning with teaching and research 
facilities constituting a graduate school and professional schools that award 
master’s degrees and doctorates and an undergraduate division that awards 
bachelor’s degrees. 
 
SECTION 4. Compulsory Teaching a Separate Subject Called Ethics – The 
teaching of a separate subject called Ethics shall be compulsory at all levels of: 
elementary education; bridge program; secondary education; and in all degree programs 
offered by colleges and universities. All colleges and universities shall provide a 
compulsory 3-unit Ethics course for every profession, e.g., Legal Ethics for law schools, 
Medical Ethics for medical schools, Military Ethics for the Philippine Military 
Academy and other military schools, etc. 
 
SECTION 5. Ethics and Values formation Syllabus. –  
 
A. 
Public Morality. – The main syllabus should include the following six 
levels of public morality: 
 
a. Basic Honest and Conformity to Law. – This level describes the basic 
adherence to the constitution, laws, ordinances, and moral codes that is 
expected from all members of a group or society; 
b. Conflicts of Interest. – This level deals with the conflict between 
advancing the public interest which a public official is charged to do, 
and advancing one’s self-interest; 
c. Service Orientation and Procedural Fairness. – This level deals with 
the responsibility of public officials to ensure that their actions serve 
the public and that the power they wield is used only for that purpose. 
This concentrates on procedural safeguards to prevent abuse of 
authority and on moral obligation of public servants; 
d. Ethics of Democratic Responsibility. – This level deals with the public 
officials, either elected or appointed, to make moral choices consistent 
with their own values and will of the people; 
e. Ethics of Public Policy Determination. – This level concerns making 
moral judgments about public policies in which equity and fairness are 
important considerations; 
f. Ethics of Compromise and Social Integration. – This level entails the 
necessity of give and take, and compromise in a society with 
irreconcilable differences on fundamental issues. 
 
B. 
Supplementary Topics. – The curriculum should have additional topics and 
studies on the causes, issues, and effects of graft and corruption in the 
Philippines and in other parts of the world, and suggested measures to 
reform a corrupt environment. 
 


C. 
Other Subject Matters. – Other areas of Ethics and Values formation may 
be included in the syllabus, provided that it will not be made in preference 
of any religion and belief, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Agencies. – The Secretary of Education and the 
Commissioners of CHED are hereby authorized and directed to adopt a system to 
implement and carry out the provisions of this Act. The Secretary of Education and the 
CHED Commissioners shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, 
promulgate the rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry 
out and enforce the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 7. Educational Materials. – It shall be obligatory on all schools, 
colleges, and universities to keep in their libraries and adequate number of copies of the 
textbooks, primers, and leaflets on Ethics to be issued by the DepEd and the CHED. 
The DepEd and CHED shall determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending 
upon the enrollment of the school, college, or university. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 9. 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 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
  
Approved.