Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Batasan Wills, Queson City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5194

Introduced by Representative Florencio Gabriel G. Noel

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution provides:

“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. It shall inculeate in the youth patriotism”

Further, Article 14, Section 3(2) further states

“All educational institutions shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism,
foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation 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 technical knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency.”

Youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but also the partners of today.
Young people are social actors of change and progress. In this regard, the youth, as
catalyst in the nation’s development, should have well-informed decision regarding
the selection of their leaders. 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 bill seeks the integration of voter education in the secondary level of our
educational system to encourage the students to become active citizenry of our
country and also to awaken their interest in safeguarding the integrity of our electoral
system.

Score

FLORENCIO GABRIEL G. NOEL


eee
Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Batasan Hills, Queson City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5194

Introduced by Representative Florencio Gabriel 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 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

(c) 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 Program
(SSVEP), that shall have the following features:

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

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


(0) 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 the DILG, promulgate and issue the necessary guidelines for the
implementation of this Act.

Section 7. Appropriations. The Secretary of the DepEd shall 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 he 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,