THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

ARTICLE II
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES

Annotations 2. The observance of the principle that

Congress cannot pass irreparable laws.
The functions of the Declaration of Principles
3. The observance of the principle that the
and State Policies in the Constitution are:
State cannot be sued without its consent.
1. To shed light on the meaning of the 4. The observance of the rule of the
other provisions of the constitution; majority.
2. To guide all departments in the 5. The observance of the principle that
implementation of the Constitution; and “ours is a government of law and not of
3. Directed to lay down the primary rules men.”
characterizing our government system. 6. The observance of the principle of
Therefore must be adhered to in the separation of powers and of checks and
conduct of public affairs and the balances.
resolution of public issues. These 7. The observance of the law of public
provisions mandate the state to legislate officers is known as administrative law.
and execute to make our most-cherished 8. The observance of election through a
Constitution a truly active document. popular will or the right of suffrage.
9. Supremacy of civilian authority over the
military.
DECLARATION PRINCIPLES 10. Separation of Church and State.

Section 1. The Philippines is a democratic The Sovereignty of the People

and republican State. Sovereignty resides in
the people and all government authority Sovereignty
emanates from them. ➢ It is the supreme power to govern.
A Democratic and Republican State ➢ It lies in the hands of the Filipino
people who have the right to choose
➢ It is stated that the Philippines is not the type of government they want and
only Republican but also a democratic to define the powers it shall hold and
state. exercise.
➢ It is their right to abolish their
Manifestations of a democratic and
government, form a new one, and
republican state.
organize it as it seems best for their
1. The existence of the Bill of Rights. welfare and happiness.
Section 2. The Philippines renounces war as Section 3. Civilian authority is, at all times,
an instrument of national policy, adopts the supreme over the military. The Armed Forces
generally accepted principles of international of the Philippines is the protector of the
law as part of the law of the land, and adheres people and the State. Its goal is to secure the
to the policy of peace, equality, justice, sovereignty of the State and the integrity of
freedom, cooperation, and amity with all the national territory.
nations.
Supremacy of the Civilian Authority
This section is divided into three (3) parts:
▪ The President of the Republic of the
Part 1. Renunciation of war as an instrument Philippines is the head of the civilian
of national policy. government and at the same time
commander-in-chief of the armed forces
▪ The Philippines will never start a war
of the Philippines.
with another country
➢ The army, the navy, the air force,
▪ The state can only declare war for self-
and the marines.
reservation and territorial integrity.
➢ The appointment of high-ranking
Part 2. Adaptation of International Laws as a officials is vested in the President.
part of the Philippine Law
Armed Forces: Protector of the People and
▪ International law – a body of rules and the State
principles which governs the relations
▪ Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
of nations and their respective peoples
▪ Its goal is to discharge the function of
in their intercourse with one another.
being the protector of:
▪ "Doctrine of Incorporation" - the
➢ The sovereignty of the State
commitment of the state to international
➢ The integrity of our National
laws.
Territory
➢ When international usage is to be
applied.
Section 4. The prime duty of the Government
➢ A treaty has the force of a statute.
is to serve and protect the people. The
➢ Constitution prevails over a treaty.
Government may call upon the people to
Part 3. Adherence to the policy of peace, defend the State and, in the fulfillment
equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and thereof, all citizens may be required, under
amity with all nations. conditions provided by law, to render
personal, military, or civil service.
The Philippines seeks peace and unity
with neighboring countries all over the world Role of the Government

regardless of race, ideology, and political The Government must serve and
protect the people. This simply means that the
system on the basis of mutual trust, respect, people are the masters while government
and cooperation. officials and employees are the servants.
Section 5. The maintenance of peace and STATE POLICIES
order, the protection of life, liberty, and
Section 7. The State shall pursue an
property, and the promotion of the general
independent foreign policy. In its relations
welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all
with other states, the paramount
the people of the blessings of democracy.
consideration shall be national sovereignty,
Duty of the Government territorial integrity, national interest, and the
right to self-determination.
The prime duty of the government is to
establish protection and to serve the welfare Pursuit of an Independent Foreign Policy
of the people by making laws, enforcing
Foreign Policy
laws, and promoting the general welfare.
➢ A set of goals about how the country
Section 6. The separation of Church and will work with other countries
State shall be inviolable. economically, politically, socially, and
militarily.
▪ The government shall not favor any 1. Formulation and conduct of foreign
religion, support them using public policy
funds, or even establish or set up a ➢ The president is the chief architect of
church. Philippine foreign policy.
▪ The Church should not get involved in 2. An instrument of domestic foreign policy
political issues or matters.
➢ Its importance in the survival and
Establishment of Religion Clause progress of a country cannot be over-
emphasized.
Article III which states: "No law respecting ➢ Sole weapon of a State for the
the establishment of religion," of which this promotion of national interest in
international affairs.
Section should be read means that:
3. Pursuit in an independent foreign policy
1. The State shall have no official religion. ➢ It simply means that no other state
2. The State cannot set up a church, should be permitted to dictate how the
whether or not supported with public Philippines should behave in relation
funds; not aid one religion; aid all to other states.
religions or prefer one religion over 4. Basic Foreign policy objective
another.
3. Every person is free to profess belief or ➢ To establish friendly relations with all
countries of the world.
disbelief in any religion.
4. Every religious minister is free to 5. Paramount consideration
practice his calling. ➢ Must be a policy of flexibility and
5. The State cannot punish a person for pragmatism guided only by our
entertaining or professing religious people's welfare and our Republic's
belief or disbelief. security.
Section 8. The Philippines, consistent with Section 10. The State shall promote social
the national interest, adopts and pursues a justice in all phases of national development.
policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in
The State must give preferential attention to
its territory.
the welfare of the less fortunate members of
Freedom from Nuclear Weapons the community. Specifically, the poor,
It is a prohibition from: uneducated, underprivileged, and disabled.

▪ Making
Section 11. The State values the dignity of
▪ Storing
▪ Manufacturing every human person and guarantees full
▪ Dumping respect for human rights.

Of nuclear weapons, devices, or parts thereof Promotion of Human Rights

in our country.
Belief in the inherent dignity of every human
Exceptions person basis of human rights. A human
The use of nuclear for: person is a being, not a thing.

▪ Medicine ▪ In a democratic state, the individual

▪ Agriculture enjoys certain rights which cannot be
▪ And other beneficial purposes modified or taken away by the
If the national interest so requires storing lawmaking body.
nuclear weapons in our territory may be
permitted. Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity
of family life and shall protect and strengthen
Section 9. The State shall promote a just and the family as a basic autonomous social
dynamic social order that will ensure the institution. It shall equally protect the life of
prosperity and independence of the nation the mother and the life of the unborn from
and free the people from poverty through conception. The natural and primary right
policies that provide adequate social services, and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth
promote full employment, a rising standard for civic efficiency and the development of
of living, and an improved quality of life for moral character shall receive the support of
all. the Government.
Promotion of a Just and Dynamic Social Right of human life of the unborn from
Order conception and of the mother
The state shall promote a just and dynamic ▪ Once conceived, a child has the right to
social order that shall ensure the prosperity be born and the right to live.
and independence of the nation and, at the ▪ Mandates the protection of the unborn
same time, free the people from poverty. from the possibility of abortion being
legalized.
 ▪ The State should also protect the health Section 13. The State recognizes the vital
of the mother. role of the youth in nation-building and shall
▪ The State shall defend the family from promote and protect their physical, moral,
all forms of violence. spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being.
It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and
Rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and
nationalism, and encourage their
development of moral character
involvement in public and civic affairs.
1. A duty of both parents and the
Role of the Youth in Nation Building
government.
➢ Proper education and good ▪ The Constitution recognizes the vital
upbringing of the children can help role of youth. Thus, transforming them
the welfare of society and the into healthy, upright, intelligent, and
common good. The government useful citizens and potential community
should share the responsibility of the leaders.
parents to train their children to be ▪ The constitution recognizes the
worthy citizens by supporting and importance of the youth.
encouraging them in order to prepare
them for the future. Section 14. The State recognizes the role of
2. Right of the State to interfere with the women in nation-building and shall ensure
education of the children. fundamental equality before the law of
➢ The parents and the government have the women and men.
duty in giving adequate education to the
children Role of Women in Nation-building
3. Power of State to regulate all schools ▪ The State should formulate strategies to
➢ The State has the power to require the expand women's participation in non-
age children of a proper age to attend household and productive activities and
school, the teachers shall be of a good make them direct contributors to the
moral character and teach the children country's economic growth.
certain points to good citizenship. ▪ It is the duty of the State to ensure
4. The State and parental obligations equality before the law in all aspects of
➢ It is the duty of the State to see national life by rectifying or ending all
whether the parents fulfill their practices and systems that are
obligations in the education of their disadvantageous to women or
child. discriminate against them.
5. Duty of State to encourage educational
institutions
Section 15. The State shall protect and
➢ Support and encourage private and
promote the right to health of the people and
parochial schools as long as they meet
instill health consciousness among them.
the secular educational requirements.
Right to Health
Health is the state of physical, social and from illiteracy, self-centered desires, colonial
mental well-being rather than merely the mentality, bad habits, and negative attitudes.
absence of physical diseases.
This constitution gives the right to the people Section 18. The State affirms labor as a
to health: primary social economic force. It shall
protect the rights of workers and promote
1. DOH their welfare.
2. Health Center
Labor as a Primary Social Economic Force
Section 16. The State shall protect and Human labor is not only treated as land, tools,
advance the right of the people to a balanced or machinery. It mandates the State to
and healthful ecology in accord with the provide a living wage and full participation to
rhythm and harmony of nature. workers in decision-making processes that
affect their rights and benefits.
Right to Balanced and Healthful Ecology
The need for a program to address the Section 19. The State shall develop a self-
ecological problems of: reliant and independent national economy
▪ Pollution effectively controlled by Filipinos.
▪ Waste disposal An Independent national economy is an
▪ Forest denudation economy that is free from dependence on
▪ Flood drought other countries. In order to build an
▪ Dying river beds independent national economy, it is
▪ Destruction of waterways important to adhere to the principle of a self-
▪ Protect human life reliant economy.

Section 17. The State shall give priority to Section 20. The State recognizes the
education, science and technology, arts, indispensable role of the private sector,
culture, and sports to foster patriotism and encourages private enterprise, and provides
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and incentives for needed investments.
promote total human liberation and
development. Role of Private Sectors in the Economy

Goals: The Constitution recognizes the importance

of the private sector in the development of the
1. Foster Patriotism and Nationalism country. The state is commanded to
2. Accelerate Social Progress encourage free enterprise and to give
3. Promote Total Human Liberation and incentives to those who want to invest in the
Development country.
The authors of this constitution strongly
believed that a human being must be liberated
Section 21. The State shall promote usually not affiliated with the
comprehensive rural development and government. They are formed to
agrarian reform. provide services or to advocate public
policy.
This is very significant for the economy of
our country. More than half of the population PO (People Organizations)
is employed in the agricultural sector,
➢ Members of the community who are
reforms are important because they protect
organized to respond to their common
the rights of the farmers.
interests. Most of the time, the members
of these organizations are from the same
Section 22. The State recognizes and locality.
promotes the rights of indigenous cultural
communities within the framework of
Section 24. The State recognizes the vital
national unity and development.
role of communication and information in
1. Recognizes the existence and the rights nation-building.
of the indigenous cultural communities.
The Role of Communication and Information
2. Directs the State to promote the rights of
indigenous cultural communities by A balanced flow of information and
considering their customs, traditions, communication is vital to national progress
beliefs, and interests. whether in war or in peace. And effective
3. Implementing state policies with full communication and information is an
respect to their culture, dignity, imperative necessity.
uniqueness, and human rights.
Section 25. The State shall ensure the
Section 23. The State shall encourage non- autonomy of local governments.
governmental, community-based, or sectoral
The Constitution of the Philippines
organizations that promote the welfare of the
recognizes the importance of local
nation.
governments, it provides them with local
Promotion of NGOs and POs autonomy. Local affairs can best be regulated
by the people in the locality.
The state is required to encourage these
organizations because recent events have Autonomy – the ability of local governments
shown that, under responsible leadership, to set up their own rules in order to have an
they can be active contributors to the independent impact on the well-being of their
political, social, and economic growth of the citizens.
country - promote the welfare of the nation.
NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) Section 26. The State shall guarantee equal
access to opportunities for public service, and
➢ These are the voluntary groups of prohibit political dynasties as may be defined
individuals or organizations that are by law.
Prohibition of Political Dynasties concerning the utilization of public
funds and property.
Political Dynasty – a succession of rulers
from the same family or line.
▪ This does not allow the existence of
political dynasties or the practice of
keeping political power within the
control of select families.
▪ Emphasizes the duty of the government
to uphold democratic elections and
appointments.

Section 27. The State shall maintain honesty

and integrity in the public service and take
positive and effective measures against graft
and corruption.
Honesty and Integrity in Public Service
▪ A government office is a public trust
and it must not be betrayed
▪ The constitution seeks to minimize and
find completely to eliminate graft and
corruption, a way to attack problems.

Section 28. Subject to reasonable conditions

prescribed by law, the State adopts and
implements a policy of full public disclosure
of all its transactions involving public
interest.
The Policy of Full Public Disclosure

• Section 7 of the Bill of Rights

➢ Guarantees the people's right to
know any transaction entered into
by the government.
▪ Limited to things which involves
public concerns.
• The policy covers matters involving
public interest especially those