FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 468 
- 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II Section 17 of the Philippine Constitution states that "The State shall give 
priority to education, sciences and technology, arts, culture and sports to foster 
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human 
liberation and development. " 
The rich heritage of the Filipino people have attracted a number of scholars, both 
local and foreign, to venture into further studies on valuable books and chronicles, as 
well as historical artifacts and published materials on Filipino culture and tradition. A 
Filipino cannot boast of his own nationality ,if he is not aware of his cultural origins. 
Filipinos, who are permanent or temporary residents abroad, whether workers or 
students, are not exempted from this responsibility. In cognizance of the role of the 
State in the promotion of the appreciation and awareness of the Philippine national 
heritage, this "Education and Heritage Program for Overseas Filipinos Act of 2007" is 
being proposed. This bill intends to teach Filipino language and Philippine history and 
culture in the Philippine diplomatic and consular establishments. It also provides for the 
establishment of the Philippine schools and Filipiniana Resource Centers in different 
Filipino communities abroad. These measures will equip the overseas Filipinos with 
knowledge about their very own culture and tradition. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
~ G G O ~ ~ J E R C I T O  
ESTRADA 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
(I 
<’! 
1 -2 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRESERVATION AND CULTIVATION OF THE FILIPINO 
HERITAGE AMONG FILIPINOS OVERSEAS THROUGH THE TEACHING OF 
FILIPINO LANGUAGE AND HISTORY, ASSISTANCE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT 
AND OPERATION OF PHILIPPINE SCHOOLS AND FlLlPlNlANA RESOURCE 
CENTERS ABROAD, AND THE CREATION OF A COMMITTEE ON HERITAGE AND 
CULTURE 
FOR 
OVERSEAS 
FILIPINOS, 
AND 
APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS 
THEREFOR. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known and cited as the “Education and 
Heritage Program for Overseas Filipinos Act of 2007”. 
SEC 2. Declaration Policies. The State recognizes the importance of education, 
both formal and informal, as means of promoting human development, fostering 
patriotism and nationalism, accelerating progress, and propagating knowledge about 
the Philippines’ history and cultural heritage. 
It is also the policy of the State to preserve, promote, and enhance the ties 
between the Philippine homelands and the Filipino communities overseas, in particular 
with younger generations of Filipinos overseas, in order to keep them from being 
alienated from’their native country and to provide them with knowledge and values that 
would contribute to the shaping of the their Filipino character and identity. 
Towards this end, the State shall develop and promote the provision of critical 
educational needs, as well as the continued exposure of younger generations of 
Filipinos overseas to the Filipino language and Philippine history and institutions. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. For the purpose of this Act: 
(a) “Overseas Filipinos” shall be referred to Filipinos who are permanently 
or temporary residents abroad namely, Filipino emigrants who are 
defined as clientele of the Commission of Filipinos Overseas 
Workers, and all Filipino youth and students abroad. 
(b) “Philippine Schools Abroad” shall refer to any educational institutions 
abroad whose establishment ,is duly recognized, its educational 
program accredited, and upon meeting the minimum standards or 


criteria, given a permit to operate as a Philippine school by 
Department of Education. 
SEC 4. Preservation of the Filipino Heritage. The State through its relevant 
agencies and instrumentalities, and in cooperation with communities or associations 
abroad, shall preserve and promote Filipino heritage and culture among Filipinos 
overseas through the following activities. 
(a) Teaching of Filipino Language and Philippine History and Institutions. All 
Philippine diplomatic and consular establishments shall provide assistance 
and support to Filipino communities and associations, as well as other 
organizations overseas, to encourage the conduct of regular or weekend 
classes in Filipino and in Philippine history and institution for the benefit of 
children parentage and overseas Filipinos in general. 
(b) Assistance in the Establishment and Operation of Philippine Schools 
Abroad. The Philippine schools to be established abroad pursuant to this Act 
shall be community-based institutions to provide courses of instruction on 
the elementary and secondary levels, consistent and in accordance with the 
Philippine educational system and other regulations as may be promulgated 
by the Department of Education. 
(c) Establishment and Operation of Filipiniana Resource Centers. All Philippine 
diplomatic and consular establishments shall allocate space for the 
establishment and maintenance of a permanent library and collection of 
Filipiniana materials such as books, films, video and audio tapes, journals, 
photographs, musical score, artworks and artifacts, for reference and use by 
members of Filipino communities overseas. 
SEC 5. Role of Philippine Diplomatic and Consular Establishment Overseas. All 
diplomatic and consular establishments shall make available to overseas Filipinos the 
services of an officer to promote programs and activities in furtherance of this Act. 
Among other duties, this officer shall perform the following: 
(a) Organize, in accordance with community members, the conduct of regular 
classes in Filipino and Philippine history at embassylconsulate premises or 
other venues; 
(b) Organize the conduct of special lectures and discussion meeting on 
Philippine history, culture, institutions and current events, and 
based classes in Filipino and Philippine history. 
(c) Assist members of the Filipino community in organizing regular community- 
SEC 6. Establishment of a Committee on Heritage and Culture for Overseas 
Filipinos. The cooperation among Government departments and agencies shall be vital 
in carrying out the objective of this Act. Toward this end, a Committee on Heritage and 
Culture for Overseas Filipinos shall be established and composed of the heads of, but 
not limited to, the following agencies: the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 
Department of Education (DOE), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 
National Commission on the Culture and Arts (NCCA), Overseas Workers Welfare 
Administration (OWWA), Commission on Filipino Language, and the Commission on 
Filipinos Overseas (CFO). 


(a) The Committee on Heritage and Culture for Overseas Filipinos shall be 
chaired by the Department of Education, and co-chaired by the Department of 
Foreign Affairs. 
(b) The Commission on Filipinos Overseas shall provide Secretarial support and 
take the lead in coordinating and implementing the programs and activities of 
the Committee on Heritage for Overseas Filipinos. 
SEC 7. Responsibility of the Committee on Heritage and Culture for Overseas 
Filipinos. The Committee shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities. 
(a) Formulate policies and guidelines to carry out the provisions of this Act, 
including the promulgation of rules and regulation; 
(b) Develop appropriate strategies for the teaching of Philippine history and 
language among overseas Filipinos, including the use of innovative education 
methods and advances information technologies; 
(c) Assign specific duties and responsibilities to Committee members as may be 
necessary to carrying out the policies and provisions of this Act; 
(d) Provide periodic study, monitoring and assessment of the programs services 
as provided for in this Act to advance Filipino heritage and culture among 
overseas Filipinos; 
(e) Ensure effective and efficient implementation of policies and programs under 
this Act through the holding of regular meeting or consultative meetings and 
development of a coordinated reporting system for member agencies and 
other instrumentalities: and 
(9 Call on any agencies of the government, private sector, and the academe for 
support to the programs in this Act as may be established by the Committee. 
SEC 8. Participation of Filipino Associations and Communities Abroad. Filipino 
associations and Filipino communities abroad shall be activated as primary partners of 
government department and agencies concerned in the implementation of this Act. 
SEC 9. Appropriation and Other Sources of Funding. to initially carry out 
programs under the provisions of this Act, the amount of Ten Million Pesos 
(PlO,OOO,OOO.OO) is hereby initially appropriated for the Committee Secretarial, of which 
Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00) shall come from revenues of the Commission on 
Filipinos Overseas; and Seven Million Pesos (7,000,000.00) form travel tax collections, 
with such amounts to be automatically appropriated fro the General Funds for 
subsequent years. 
SEC I O .  lmplementing Rules and Regulations. The Committee on Heritage and 
Culture for Overseas Filipinos, composed of Government departments and agencies 
charged with carrying put the provisions of this Act shall, within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this act, formulate the necessary rules and regulations for effective 
implementation thereof. 
SEC 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders and regulations, 
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 


SEC 12. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any section or provision of this 
Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other sections or provisions shall not be 
affected thereby and shall continue to be operative. 
SECl3. Effecfivify Clause. This law shall take effect after fifteen (15) days form 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of 
general circulation whichever, comes after. 
Approved,