Republic of the Philippines
se of Representatives
Batasan Fills, Quezon Gity

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, _5384

Introduced by Representative Florencio Gabriel “Bem” G. Noel

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As provided by Section 13, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, the State recognizes the vital
role of the youth in nation-building, and shall promote and protect their well-being. It shall
inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and
civic affairs

To this end, the purpose of this bill is to establish a Fundamental Program which shall be
incorporated in the curricula of the basic education programs of all public and private educational
institutions. This program specifically aims to instill in the youth moral values, discipline,
patriotism, nationalism, and a strong sense of bayanihan among students from Grades | to 12 as
well as an optional Specialized Program offered to students in Grade 11 and 12.

Taking a serious positive step towards inculcating in the youth such values, teachings, and
work ethic at this tender age would allow educational institutions to better prepare the youth to
become responsible contributing members of society. These values may be a challenge to teach
but effective implementation of this bill will have an exponential impact on the lives of the
generations to come.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this bill is earnestly sought.

Cow
Florencio Gabriel “Bem” G. Noel
‘An Waray Party-list Representative


Republic of the Philippines
se of Representatives
Batusan Hills, Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5384

Introduced by Representative Florencio Gabriel “Bem” G. Noel

AN ACT INSTILLING AND STRENGTHENING THE SENSE OF PATRIOTISM A!
NATIONALISM AMONG THE YOUTH THROUGH THE
INSTITUTIONALIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND ADMINISTRATION OF
FUNDAMENTAL AND SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS IN THE BASIC EDUCATION
CURRICULUM IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Youth Patriotism and Bayanihan Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. Towards this end,
it shall inculcate moral values, discipline, patriotism, nationalism, and a strong sense of bayanihan in the
youth and encourage their involvement in socio-civic affairs.

Sec. 3. Establishment of the Fundamental Program - There is hereby established a Fundamental Program,
which shall form part of the curricula of basic education in all public and private educational institutions.
‘The Fundamental Program aims to instill moral values, discipline, patriotism, nationalism, and a strong,
sense of bayanihan among all students from Grades 1 to 12, through the following service components:

a) Physical Fitness Program - designed to instill and develop discipline and an active and healthy
lifestyle among the students in the community;

b) Arts and Cultural Heritage Program- designed to develop the skills of students in different types
of arts and to expose them to the country’s rich culture and heritage for them to be agents of its
promotion and preservation;

c) Community Outreach Program - designed to provide services to the most vulnerable members of
society and improve the lives of the people in the community, especially in health and education;


4) Basic Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program - designed to train students to identify,
assess, and reduce the impact caused by natural hazards and other related disasters; and

e) Basic Security Program - designed to introduce to the students the concept of soft security, as
defined in Section 4, in order to address and respond to threats to the economy, health, and other
factors that affect the sustainability of a nation, as well as to ensure individual and community
security

Sec. 4. Establishment of the Specialized Program. - In Senior High School, students shall have the option
to take a Specialized Program, in lieu of the Fundamental Program. The Specialized Program shall be
offered to students in Grades 11 and 12 in all public and private educational institutions and shall provide
advanced and dedicated training to develop the skills of the students in security, survival, and public
service. The Specialized Program shall teach and strengthen the moral values, discipline, patriotism,
nationalism, and sense of bayanihanof the students through the following program components:

a) Internal Security and Peace and Order Program - designed to develop discipline and the skills of
students in self-defense, physical training, peacekeeping, mediation, and other strategies that will
protect and ensure the safety of the community,

b)

Dedicated Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program - designed to train students on
disaster response operations, develop skills for rescue and relief operations, as well as integration
of capacity-building activities centered on risk-related situations in order for students to be
proactive in lessening the socio-economic and environmental impacts of disasters;

©) Advanced Security Program — designed to create a deeper understanding among students on soft
and hard security issues to enable them to discuss and analyze the issues, with a conflict-preventive
dimension, in order to respond to threats to the security of the State; and

d

Career Development Program — designed to further hone and develop the knowledge and skills
of students who are interested to pursue a career in the military in the fields of engineering,
administration, science, agriculture, energy, information-technology, legal, medical, and other
similar tracks to eventually prepare them for their respective fields in the future

Provided, That participation in the Specialized Program under this Section shall be credited to a
corresponding training program at the tertiary level.

Provided Further, That for purposes of this Act, soft security shall pertain to the ability to respond to
threats to a nation's sustainability through the efficient management of resources and delivery of service in
the communities throughout the nation, while hard security pertains to the ability to respond to security
threats to a nation through the use of military force.

Sec. 5. Coverage. — The conduct of the Fundamental Program shall apply to all students, male and female,
in Grades | to 12 in all public and private educational institutions: Provided, That students who are
undergoing similar programs such as, but not limited to, student council officers, student-athletes, boy
scouts, girl scouts, and other students as may be determined by the school authorities may credit their
respective trainings in lieu of the Fundamental Program, subject to the approval of the respective school
authorities; Provided, Further, That completion of the Fundamental Program or Specialized Program is a
requisite for graduation to tertiary education.

Sec. 6. Management of Program Components. — The Department of Education (DepED) shall formulate
the guidelines for the development of an age-appropriate Fundamental Program and Specialized Program


3

Provided, That the school authorities shall exercise academic and administrative supervision over the
design, adoption, duration, and implementation of the different service components: Provided Further,
That the DepEd shall oversee and monitor the implementation of the Fundamental Program and
Specialized Program to determine if the trainings are being conducted in consonance with the objectives
of this Act.

Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DepEd, in consultation with the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Philippine Sports Commission
(PSC), and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA)
shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within thirty
(30) days from the effectivity of the same

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid,
the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected thereby

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,