• 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2629 
']') lEO -4 1'5 :01 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
PRESCRIBING THE USE OF NEO-ETHNIC PHILIPPINE TEXTILES IN THE 
ACADEMIC REGALIA OF ALL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The academic regalia of state colleges and universities of the Philippines is 
based on the Western toga. In the 1990s, the University of the Philippines, 
initiated the use of the so-called "sablay" bearing the university's insignia and 
colors as the academic regalia for UP graduates instead of the conventional black 
toga. The primary motivation includes the comfort factor where black togas for 
temperate countries are rather uncomfortable and impractical in Philippine 
settings. Moreover, the need to distinguish UP as a Philippine university from 
other universities in the world and other official academic activities could not be 
over-emphasized. 
In this regard, this bill seeks to establish the Philippine Academic Regalia 
Council (PARC) which shall formulate the National Academic Regalia Policy which 
shall 
review, 
standardize, 
and 
adopt 
academic 
regalia 
for 
graduates, 
administrators, faculty, and awardees of state universities and colleges. The 
proposed bill will also allow these educational institutions to give back to the 
community by using and wearing academic costumes made of neo-ethnic 
Philippine textiles within their locality. The academic regalia of the Philippines 
must have a mark of Filipino culture worthy of a trophy by being an authentic 
Philippine textile, reflective and proud of the heritage and ethnicity of the 
community where it came from. This will then nurture and perpetuate the 
production of these textiles in the countryside, preserve culture, provide jobs, and 
loop the cycle of goodwill within and among the graduates who were "sent" to 
school by the same Filipino people who will directly benefit from the energized 
textile sector. In sum, the proposed measure will ensure rural development, 
cultural preservation, inclusive growth, women empowerment, and sustained 
production of truly neo-ethnic Philippine textiles. 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
~~~~-:--
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
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Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
PRESCRIBING THE USE OF NEO-ETHNIC PHILIPPINE TEXTILES IN THE 
ACADEMIC REGALIA OF ALL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION l.Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Academic 
2 
Regalia Act of 2015", 
3 
4 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy, -
It is the policy of the State to instill 
5 
patriotism and nationalism among the people, particularly young graduates of 
6 
state colleges and universities who, at all times, shall be loyal to the Republic 
7 
and the Filipino people, 
8 
9 
SEC.3. Definition of Terms. 
10 
(a) Academic regalia - the official garb worn by university officials, 
11 
faculty, graduates, and awardees during commencement exercises 
12 
and other academic functions; and 
13 
(b) Neo-ethnic Philippine textiles - those made of or containing natural or 
14 
indigenous materials, sourced and/or produced in the Philippines 
15 
using updated, relevant, and green scientific and technological 
16 
approaches and innovations, while integrating and/ or retaining 
17 
traditional patterns, designs, icons, motifs and/or approaches, and 
18 
thus, contributing to livelihood generation and sustaining the local 
19 
handloom weaving and textile heritage, 
20 
21 
22 
SEC.4. Creation of the Philippine Academic Regalia Council.-
The 
23 
Philippine Academic Regalia Council (PARC), hereinafter referred to as the 
24 
"Council", is hereby created, which shall be headed by the Chairperson of the 
25 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as Chairperson and the Head of the 
26 
Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and 
27 
Technology (DOST), as Co-Chairperson, The following shall be its members: 
28 
(a) a representative of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts 
29 
(NCCA); 
30 
31 
(b) a representative of the Philippine Association of State Universities and 
32 
Colleges (PASUC); 
33 
34 
(c) a representative of the University of the Philippines System (UP); and 
35 
1 


1 
(d) a representative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). 
2 
3 
SEC. 5.Powers and Functions of the PARC.- The Council shall have the 
4 
following powers and functions: 
5 
(a) Formulates the National Academic Regalia Policy; 
6 
7 
(b) Reviews, standardizes and adopts academic regalia for graduates, 
8 
administrators, faculty, and awardees of state universities and colleges; 
9 
10 
(c) Ensures sustainability, quality control, and availability of yarns, dyes, 
11 
and loom parts; 
12 
13 
(d) Proposes ways to incorporate neo-ethnic textiles in the academic regalia; 
14 
15 
(e) Formulates a handbook for the academic regalia for appropriate use, 
16 
protection, trade and management; 
17 
18 
(I) Protects intellectual property rights as regards design silhouettes, textile 
19 
pattern, color, and textile specificationfor the academic regalia; and 
20 
21 
(g) Oversees the adoption of this bill and studies its sustainability while also 
22 
addressing issues regarding quality control, supply, appropriate use, 
23 
protection, trade and management, and intellectual property security. 
24 
25 
SEC. 6.Implementing Rules and Regulations.- Within sixty (60) days from 
26 
the effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in 
27 
consultation with the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) of the 
28 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the National Commission on 
29 
Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the University of the Philippines (UP), and the 
30 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), shall issue the necessary Rules and 
31 
Regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
32 
33 
SEC.7. Appropriations.-To implement the provIsIOns of this Act, the initial 
34 
amount of Ten Million Pesos (PlO,OOO,OOO.OO) is hereby authorized to be 
35 
appropriated from the National Treasury. Such other amounts as may 
36 
subsequently be necessary for its operation shall be included in the annual 
37 
General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
38 
39 
SEC.S. Separability Clause.- If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
40 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
41 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
42 
43 
SEC.9. Repealing Clause.- All laws, rules and regulations or parts thereof, 
44 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified 
45 
accordingly. 
46 
47 
SEC.lO. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
48 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
49 
50 
Approved, 
2