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BillSBN-87920th Congress

Philippine Academic Regalia Act

In committee Filed Aug 4, 2025
◷ Where it standsIn Committee
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on August 4, 2025, and referred to the Committees on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, Science and Technology, and Finance; it has been pending in committee since August 27, 2025.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Moderate

The bill promotes cultural heritage and supports local textile industries.

Graduates of SUCsCommunity craftsmenAcademic institutionsCultural organizations
Timeliness
Timely

The bill addresses the need for cultural representation in academic settings.

Affects you ifStudents of state universitiesFaculty of state universitiesLocal textile producersCultural heritage advocates
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
7.5/ 10
Long title

Philippine Academic Regalia Act

Plain-language summary
AI Summary

The Philippine Academic Regalia Act prescribes the use of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles in the academic regalia of all state universities and colleges (SUCs) and establishes a council to oversee its implementation.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresThe use of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles in academic regalia of all SUCs is prescribed.
RequiresThe Philippine Academic Regalia Council is created to formulate a National Academic Regalia Policy.
FundsThe necessary amount for implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
DeadlineCHED must issue implementing rules within 60 days of effectivity.
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

Academic regalia may not reflect local textiles.

This bill

Academic regalia must use neo-ethnic textiles.

Today

No formal council exists for regalia standards.

This bill

Establishes the Philippine Academic Regalia Council.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

The Act prescribes the use of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles in the academic regalia of all state universities and colleges to promote cultural heritage and support local artisans.

Source · full text
Issue areas
HealthEducationSocial WelfareState UniversitiesCultural heritageNational prideAcademic regaliaLocal textile industry

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
Aug 4, 2025Senate
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA;
Aug 27, 2025Senate
Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committees on HIGHER, TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION; SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY and FINANCE;
✦ AI insight

Stalled: the bill has sat in committee for over two months with no recorded action since its referral on August 27, 2025.

Tap a term to decode it
Floor activity

No floor deliberations yet — this measure has not reached plenary. Its committee-stage actions appear under Legislative history above.

Full text
SBN-879 — verbatim textAs filed

TATTIN TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) AUG -4 P6:09 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY S. No. 879 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE USE OF NEO-ETHNIC PHILIPPINE TEXTILES IN THE ACADEMIC REGALIA OF ALL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 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." As enshrined in the Constitution, it is the responsibility of the State to instill patriotism and nationalism among the Filipino youth. The using and wearing of the academic regalia with the use of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles encourages youth to appreciate their heritage and preserve their culture. The use of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles created by the local community craftsmen aims to showcase our culture and heritage in order to produce an academic regalia that is truly Filipino. This would also create a huge opportunity of creating jobs for communities which produced these textiles.

The Philippine Academic Regalia Council will be created to formulate a National Academic Regalia Policy that will review, standardize, and adopt the academic regalia for graduates, administrators, faculty, and awardees of SUCs. The Policy will also propose ways to incorporate neo-ethnic textiles on the academic regalia. The Council would be co-chaired by the Chairperson of the Committee on Higher Education and the Director of the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PTRI). The proposed measure aims to promote the use of neo-ethnic textiles that would greatly benefit the communities that expertly produce these masterpieces. In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

20174 Nefite of these toctop TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 25 AUG -4 P6:09 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 879 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE USE OF NEO-ETHNIC PHILIPPINE TEXTILES IN THE ACADEMIC REGALIA OF ALL STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 "Philippine Academic

2 Regalia Act .

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to instill patriotism

4 and nationalism among the people especially the youth whose academic preparation 5 for adulthood and responsible citizenship include values formation on love of country 6 and pride in the uniqueness of their cultural heritage. In this regard, opportunities 7 for displaying these values shall be encouraged by the school system not only as part of values development, but to preserve Philippine culture and certain local traditions, and create avenues, such as the wearing of an academic regalia that is not only truly Filipino but likewise distinguishes graduates of Philippine universities and colleges while giving back to the communities in the countryside through job creation and production of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles, that allow for the promotion of culture-based industries. Pursuant thereto, the use of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles in the academic 15 regalia of all state universities and colleges (SUCs) is therefore prescribed.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a) Academic regalia - refers to the official garb worn by university officials, faculty, graduates, and awardees during graduation, commencement exercises, and other academic functions; and b) Neo-ethnic Philippine textiles - refer to textiles made of or containing natural or indigenous materials, sourced and produced in the Philippines using updated, relevant and green scientific and technological approaches and innovations, while integrating and retaining traditional patterns, designs, icons, motifs, and approaches, and thus contributing to livelihood generation and sustaining the local handloom weaving and textile heritage.

Sec. 4. Creation of the Philippine Academic Regalia Council. - There is hereby

created a Philippine Regalia Council, hereinafter referred to as the "Council," which shall be chaired and co-chaired by the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Director of the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PTRI), respectively. The Council shall have the following members: a) Representative from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); b) Representative from the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC); c) Representative from the University of the Philippines System (U.P.); and d) Representative from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Sec. 5. Powers and Functions of the Council. - The Council shall have the

following specific powers and functions: a) Formulate the National Academic Regalia Policy; b) Review, standardize, and adopt the academic regalia for graduates, administrators, faculty, and awardees of SUCs; c) Ensure sustainability, quality control, availability and accessibility of tropical fabrics, yarns, dyes, and loom parts; d) Recommend relevant technological approaches and innovations that will further enhance the production processes; e) Propose ways to incorporate neo-ethnic textiles on the academic regalia;

t) Promote understanding, appreciation and respect for the cultural heritage and traditions embodied in the neo-ethnic textiles; g) Prepare and publish a handbook containing information on the academic regalia and its proper use, protection, trade, and management; and h) Protect the intellectual property rights as regards design silhouettes, textile pattern, color and textile specification for the academic regalia.

Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from

the effectivity of this Act, the CHED shall, in consultation with the DOST-PTRI, NCCA, UP, PASUC, and DTI, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective

12 implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 13 Act.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or

15 unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

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

executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation 19 contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

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

22 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.