Philippine History Education Protection Act

Senate Offer of the secretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) 26 MAY -4 P1:42 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 2077 Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT OF FILIPINOS TO PHILIPPINE HISTORY EDUCATION, MANDATING ITS TEACHING AS A STANDALONE SUBJECT AT ALL LEVELS OF FORMAL EDUCATION, PROVIDING SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ITS REMOVAL OR DILUTION, ESTABLISHING AN INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL FOR PHILIPPINE HISTORY EDUCATION, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Philippine history is fundamental to the formation of national identity, civic consciousness, and democratic participation. It provides Filipinos with a shared understanding of their past, enabling them to critically engage with present realities and shape the future of the nation. However, in recent years, concerns have arisen over the diminishing emphasis on Philippine history in the formal education system, particularly due to its integration into broader subjects, resulting in reduced instructional time, weakened academic rigor, and the risk of historical distortion or misrepresentation. This measure seeks to address these concerns by explicitly recognizing the right of all Filipinos to Philippine history education and institutionalizing safeguards to ensure its continued and meaningful teaching across all levels of formal education. By mandating Philippine history as a standalone subject from elementary to tertiary levels, this bill aims to preserve the depth, integrity, and continuity of historical learning. The proposed Act affirms that Philippine history is not merely an academic requirement but a vital instrument for cultivating patriotism, critical thinking, and

informed citizenship. It ensures that learners are equipped with a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the nation's political, economic, social, and cultural development-from pre-colonial times to the present-while also recognizing diverse perspectives, including those of indigenous and marginalized communities. In an era where misinformation and historical revisionism pose serious challenges to democratic institutions, strengthening Philippine history education is both a national necessity and a constitutional imperative. This measure ensures that present and future generations of Filipinos are grounded in truth, guided by historical awareness, and empowered to uphold the values of nationhood. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ROBINHOOD PADILLA Senator

Senate Offire of the Berretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 26 MAY -4 P1:43 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 2077 Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT OF FILIPINOS TO PHILIPPINE HISTORY EDUCATION, MANDATING ITS TEACHING AS A STANDALONE SUBJECT AT ALL LEVELS OF FORMAL EDUCATION, PROVIDING SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ITS REMOVAL OR DILUTION, ESTABLISHING AN INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL FOR PHILIPPINE HISTORY EDUCATION, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine History

2 Education Protection Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

4 uphold the right of all Filipinos to a comprehensive, accurate, and critical understanding of Philippine history. Toward this end, the State shall promote historical 6 consciousness as a foundation of national identity, democratic participation, and civic 7 responsibility, and shall protect Philippine history education from removal, distortion, 8 or marginalization. It shall further ensure that Philippine history remains a central and 9 enduring component of the national curriculum across all levels of formal education.

SEC 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall

be understood to mean: a) Philippine History - refers to the study of the Philippines' political, economic, social, cultural, and intellectual development from pre-colonial times to the present;

b) Standalone Subject - refers to a distinct and required academic subject not merged with or subsumed under any other discipline; c) Dilution- refers to any act that reduces the scope, depth, instructional time, or academic rigor of Philippine history education; and d) Formal Education - includes elementary, secondary, and tertiary education in both public and private institutions.

SEC 4. Right to Philippine History Education. - The State hereby recognizes and

8 guarantees the right of all Filipinos to Philippine history education. This right shall be 9 protected and promoted through sustained educational policies and institutional safeguards.

SEC 5. Mandatory Teaching of Philippine History as a Standalone Subject. -

Philippine History is hereby declared a core and indispensable component of the national curriculum and shall be taught as a standalone and mandatory subject at all levels of formal education, in both public and private educational institutions. For this purpose: a) At the elementary level, Philippine History shall be taught as a distinct subject focusing on foundational narratives, national identity, and early historical development; b) At the secondary level, including both junior and senior high school, Philippine History shall be taught as a separate subject emphasizing critical analysis, historiography, and the political, social, and economic evolution of the nation; c) At the tertiary level, all higher education institutions, regardless of degree program or discipline, shall require at least one comprehensive course in Philippine History as a standalone subject distinct from general education or interdisciplinary subjects; d) Philippine History shall not be merged, embedded, or subsumed under other subjects such as social studies, humanities, or general education courses in a manner that results in the reduction of its scope, instructional time, or academic rigor;

e) The minimum instructional hours, content standards, and learning competencies for Philippine History at each level shall be prescribed by the appropriate education authorities, consistent with the objectives of this Act. Compliance with this provision shall be mandatory. Any deviation, including the 5 integration or restructuring of Philippine History that leads to its dilution, shall be 6 considered a violation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Minimum Content Standards. - The Commission on Higher Education

8 (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd), as the relevant education 9 agencies, shall determine the specific coverage, sequencing, depth, and allocation of instructional time for history subjects in the formal education curriculum at all levels, in accordance with what is developmentally appropriate and pedagogically suitable for each educational level. However, the curriculum shall, at a minimum, include the following core topics: a) Precolonial societies in the Philippines; b) Colonial encounters and resistance; c) The first Philippine Revolution; d) The First Philippine Republic; e) American and Japanese periods; f) Independence and post-war state; g) Martial Law period; and h) Post-Martial law and democratic restoration

SEC 7. Safeguards Against Removal or Dilution. - No law, administrative order,

memorandum, or policy shall remove, reduce, or integrate Philippine history in a manner that diminishes its status as a standalone subject. Any such act shall be deemed contrary to public policy and subject to review.

SEC 8. Creation of the Inter-Agency Council for Philippine History Education

(IAC-PHE). - There is hereby created an Inter-Agency Council for Philippine History Education (IAC-PHE), an inter-agency body tasked to ensure the effective implementation, coordination, and enforcement of this Act.

The Council shall be headed by the National Historical Commission of the 2 Philippines (NHCP) as Chairperson, with the Department of Education (DepEd) and 3 the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) serving as Vice Chairpersons. The Council shall be composed of representatives from relevant government 5 agencies, including but not limited to cultural, educational, and academic institutions, 6 as may be determined necessary for the effective discharge of its functions.

SEC 9. Powers and Functions of the Inter-Agency Council. - The Inter-Agency

8 Council for Philippine History Education (IAC-PHE) shall have the following powers and 9 functions: a) Coordinate, harmonize, and oversee the implementation of this Act across all levels of education; b) Ensure compliance with the mandatory teaching of Philippine History as a standalone subject; c) Review and recommend improvements in curriculum standards, learning competencies, and instructional guidelines in coordination with DepEd and CHED; d) Monitor and evaluate compliance of educational institutions with the provisions of this Act; e) Issue joint implementing guidelines, standards, and policy directions consistent with the objectives of this Act; f) Receive, refer, and coordinate investigation of complaints involving violations of this Act with the appropriate agency; g) Conduct a mandatory periodic review of the relevance, effectiveness, and implementation of Philippine History education every three (3) years, in coordination with DepEd, CHED, and the NHCP, for the purpose of ensuring that curriculum content, teaching methodologies, and learning competencies remain responsive to historical scholarship, pedagogical developments, and national educational objectives.

SEC. 10. Coordination and Authority. - While the IAC-PHE shall provide overall

30 policy coordination and oversight, the DepEd and the CHED shall retain their respective

regulatory, supervisory, and enforcement powers over basic and higher education 2 institutions, consistent with their mandates and this Act. All policies, standards, and issuances implementing this Act shall be jointly 4 issued by the Council, with final regulatory enforcement executed by DepEd for basic 5 education and CHED for tertiary education.

SEC 11. Prohibited Acts. - Educational institutions shall bear primary

7 responsibility for ensuring full compliance with this Act. Accordingly, it shall be unlawful for any public or private educational institution, acting through its governing 9 board, administrators, or authorized personnel, to commit any of the following acts: a) Removal or Non-Offering. - Removing, discontinuing, or failing to offer Philippine History as a required standalone subject at any level of formal education; b) Dilution or Integration. - Merging, embedding, integrating, or otherwise restructuring Philippine History into other subjects in a manner that results in the reduction of its scope, depth, instructional time, or academic rigor; c) Curricular Undermining. - Reducing prescribed instructional hours, altering content standards, or failing to meet minimum learning competencies as established by the appropriate education authorities; d) Distortion or Misrepresentation. - Adopting, approving, or using educational materials that deliberately distort, falsify, or misrepresent established historical facts; e) Non-Compliance with Directives. - Refusing or failing to comply with lawful orders, standards, or guidelines issued by the Philippine History Education Protection Commission or the appropriate regulatory agencies; a. Circumvention. - Implementing policies, schemes, or administrative 26 arrangements designed to circumvent the mandatory and standalone nature of 27 Philippine History as required under this Act. Liability for the foregoing prohibited acts shall attach primarily to the educational institution. However, school heads, administrators, governing board 30 members, and other responsible officers who knowingly, willfully, or through gross

1 negligence authorize, direct, or permit such violations shall likewise be held individually 2 accountable, without prejudice to applicable administrative, civil, or criminal liabilities.

SEC. 12. Penalties. - Any person, official, or educational institution found in

4 violation of this Act shall be subject to appropriate administrative, civil, or other 5 sanctions, as may be determined by the proper authority, without prejudice to other 6 liabilities under existing laws. a. For violations committed at the elementary and secondary levels, the 8 DepEd shall have primary jurisdiction to investigate and impose administrative 9 sanctions, including but not limited to suspension or revocation of permits, fines, and other disciplinary measures in accordance with its rules and regulations; b. For violations committed at the tertiary level, the CHED shall have primary jurisdiction to investigate and impose appropriate sanctions, including but not limited to fines, suspension or revocation of program accreditation, or institutional permits, consistent with its governing laws and policies; C. In all cases, the imposition of fines ranging from One Hundred Thousand 16 Pesos (P100,000) to One Million Pesos (P1,000,000), as well as other administrative 17 penalties, shall be without prejudice to the filing of appropriate civil or criminal actions under existing laws; d. Public officials found to have willfully violated this Act shall, in addition to the foregoing penalties, be subject to administrative disciplinary action, including dismissal from service and disqualification from holding public office, in accordance 22 with applicable civil service laws and regulations.

SEC. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of

this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from

the effectivity of this Act, the Inter-Agency Council for Philippine History Education (IAC-PHE), headed by the NHCP, and with the participation of the DepEd and the 28 CHED as Vice Chairpersons, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for 29 the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared

2 unconstitutional, the remainder hereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force 3 and effect.

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, presidential decrees, executive

5 orders, letters of instruction, proclamations, administrative orders, rules or regulations that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 7 accordingly.

SEC. 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days

9 following its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,