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Republic of the Philippines

® BY:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES %
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila a
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5695

Introduced by Honorable Arthur R. Defensor, Jr and Honorable Victoria G. Noel

The objective of this bill entitled, “An Act establishing a Voter Education Program for
Secondary Schools, and for Other Related Purposes” is to promote the effective exercise of the
right of suffrage under Article V of the Philippine Constitution, which states:

“Section 1. Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines
not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and
who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least six months immediately
preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement
shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.”

This shall be achieved through voter education at the secondary level of our educational
system, where through a Secondary Schools Voter Education Program, students or the youth are
given the capability to make educated decisions in the exercise of the right to suffrage. This will
educate secondary students who are either potential voters, or newly qualified voters, on how
to vote intelligently for elective officials from the President down to elected barangay officials.
The ultimate goal is an electorate, which is knowledgeable, and with a clear understanding of
form of government, the nature and significance of the various elective positions, as well as, the
qualifications and important aspects of political platforms and advocacies of candidates and
political parties.

The centerpiece of the intented Act is the Secondary Schools Voter Education Program that
shall be formulated by the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Elections
(COMELEO), and administered by the former in all secondary schools


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The total development of the youth plays a vital role in national development. It is
achieved in part through their educated participation in the electoral system that starts with
voter education at the secondary level of our educational system.

On the foregoing premises, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

VICTORIA ISABEL G. NOEL


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5695

Introduced by Honorable Arthur R. Defensor, Jr. and Honorable Victoria Isabel G. Noel

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A VOTER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS,
AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Secondary Schools Voter Education
Act”.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the role of the youth in nation
building, and in the acceleration of social progress. In this regard, the State shall ensure
their total development for the fulfillment of such role, by providing voter education, that
shall ensure their effective participation in the electoral system.

Section 3. Objective. - The objectives of this Act are the following:

(a.) _ Institutionalize a voter education program to be implemented in all secondary
schools,

(b) To give the youth the capability for effective participation in the electoral
system, and

(<) To have an electorate that shall ensure meaningful elections and good
governance.

Section 4. Creation of the Voter Education Program. - To attain the objectives of this Act,
there is hereby created the Secondary Schools Voter Education Pogram (SSVEP), that shall have
the following features:

(a) The SSVEP shall be administered by the Department of Education (DepEd) in
all secondary schools;


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(b) The DepEd shall formulate and develop, in cooperation with the Commission
‘on Elections (COMELEQ) and the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG), the SSVEP; and

(c) The SSVEP shall serve as the basic education material for instruction on form
of government, procedure in elections, nature and significance of elective
positions, and qualifications and important aspects of political platforms and
advocacies of candidates and political parties.

Section 5. SSVEP Centers. - There shall be a SSVEP Center in all secondary schools, to
be administered by the school administrator. The SSVEP Center shall function as the
resource center for the implementation of SSVEP.

Section 6. Implementing Guidelines. - The DepEd shall, in coordination with the
COMELEC and DILG, promulgate and issue the necessary guidelines for the
implementation of this Act.

Section 7. Appropriations. - The Secretary of the DepEd shalll immediately include in
the DepEd program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included
in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.

Section 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,