Youth Patriotism and Bayanihan Act

Senate Difice af this retary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 31 P2:54 SENATE RECEVED ZY 1777 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO AN ACT INSTILLING AND STRENGTHENING THE SENSE OF PATRIOTISM AND NATIONALISM AMONG YOUTH THROUGH INSTITUTIONALIZATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDAMENTAL AND SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS IN THE BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS EXPLANATORY NOTE Article II, Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution provides that "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 inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs." In fulfillment of this constitutional mandate, this proposed measure seeks to institutionalize two programs in the basic education curriculum: a Fundamental Program and a Specialized Program. These programs are designed to instill and strengthen among Filipino students the values of patriotism, nationalism, moral integrity, discipline, and the spirit of bayanihan, which are essential for responsible citizenship and meaningful participation in nation-building. The Fundamental Program shall be integrated into the curriculum of all public and private basic education institutions from Grades 1 to 12. This program includes the following core components: Physical Fitness, Arts and Cultural Heritage, Community Outreach, Basic Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and Basic Security.

For Senior High School students (Grades 11 and 12), a Specialized Program may be taken in lieu of the Fundamental Program. This advanced program shall offer in-depth and skill-based instruction focusing on Internal Security and Peace and Order, Dedicated Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Advanced Security, and Career Development, aimed at cultivating a higher level of preparedness and civic responsibility among the youth. In light of emerging global challenges, ranging from environmental degradation to resource scarcity and potential conflicts over essential commodities such as food, water, and land, it is crucial to prepare the Filipino youth with the competencies to address these threats. It is imperative that they are equipped with the knowledge, values, and skills to contribute to the preservation and sustainability of the nation's resources and to adapt to future crises. Through the implementation of these programs, our young citizens will not only gain practical skills and situational awareness, but more importantly, will develop a deeper sense of national pride, civic consciousness, and social responsibility, empowering them to serve their communities and their country with honor and integrity. It is worth noting that the undersigned first filed this measure during the 18th Congress, guided by the same commitment to ensure that the values of patriotism and nationalism are deeply rooted in the educational formation of every Filipino learner. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. Pia S. Cantanag PIA S. CAYETANC

Senate Difice of the e cretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 31 P2:54 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. _ Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO AN ACT INSTILLING AND STRENGTHENING THE SENSE OF PATRIOTISM AND THE NATIONALISM AMONG 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

2 Bayanihan Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of the youth

4 in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, 5 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 8 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 of 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; d) 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 of this Act, 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 of discipline, patriotism, nationalism, and sense of bayanihan of the students through the following program components: a) Internal Security and Peace and Order Program - designed to develop 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; c) 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 fields of engineering, administration, science, agriculture, energy, information- technology, legal, medical, defense and military services, 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 9 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 1 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: 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 30 consonance with the objectives of this Act.

Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd, in consultation with

2 the Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippine Sports Commission, and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines 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 portion or provision of this Act is declared

& unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive

order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days

following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. Adopted,