CODE OF CITIZENSHIP

MODULE 1
1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION
• Therefore, an Executive Order was issued to implement
this constitutional provision. EXECUTIVE ORDER NO.
217- PRESCRIBING CERTAIN CIVIC AND ETHICAL
PRINCIPLES TO BE TAUGHT IN ALL SCHOOLS IN
THE PHILIPPINES.

The purpose of this Executive Order states that:

Whereas section five of Article XIII of the Constitution
provides that all schools shall aim to develop moral
character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and to
teach the duties of citizenship;
• Whereas in order to comply with the above constitutional
provision, it is necessary that a Code of Citizenship and
Ethics be adopted and taught in the schools;
•  Code - a systematic statement of a body of law; a system
of principles or rules.
•  Citizenship - is personal and more or less permanent
membership in a political community. It denotes possession
within that particular political community of full civil and
political rights subject to special disqualifications such as
minority. It imposes the duty of allegiance to the political
community.
 THE FOLLOWING CIVIC AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
THAT IS REQUIRED TO ALL SCHOOLS TO TEACH:

• 1. Have faith in Divine Providence that guides the

destinies of men and nations.
• 2. Love your country for it is the home of your people, the
seat of your affections, and the source of your happiness
and well-being. Its defense is your primary duty. Be ready at
all times to sacrifice and die for it if necessary.
• 3. Respect the Constitution which is the expression of
your sovereign will. The government is your government. It
has been established for your safety and welfare. Obey the
laws and see that they are observed by all and that public
officials comply with their duties.
• 4. Pay your taxes willingly and promptly. Citizenship implies
not only rights but also obligations.
• 5. Safeguard the purity of suffrage and abide by the decisions
of the majority.
• 6. Love and respect your parents. It is your duty to serve
them gratefully and well.
• 7. Value your honor as you value your life. Poverty with
honor is preferable to wealth with dishonor.
• 8. Be truthful and be honest in thought and in action. Be just
and charitable, courteous but dignified in your dealings with
your fellow men.
• 9. Lead a clean and frugal life. Do not indulge in frivolity or
pretense. Be simple in your dress and modest in your behavior
• 10. Live up to the noble traditions of our people. Venerate
the memory of our heroes. Their lives point the way to duty and
honor.
• 11. Be industrious. Be not afraid or ashamed to do manual
labor. Productive toil is conducive to economic security and
adds to the wealth of the nation.
• 12. Rely on your own efforts for your progress and
happiness. Be not easily discouraged. Persevere in the
pursuit of your legitimate ambitions.
• 13. Do your work cheerfully, thoroughly, and well. Work
badly done is worse than work undone. Do not leave for
tomorrow what you can do today.
• 14. Contribute to the welfare of your community and
promote social justice. You do not live for yourselves and
your families alone. You are a part of society to which you
owe definite responsibilities.
• 15. Cultivate the habit of using goods made in the
Philippines. Patronize the products and trades of your
countrymen.
• 16. Use and develop our natural resources and conserve
them for posterity. They are the inalienable heritage of our
people. Do not traffic with your citizenship.
 SUMMARY
• The Executive order 217, of 1939 clearly provides for the
Sixteen (16) Civic and Ethical principles that as a Filipino
Citizen must have or do, such as;
1. Have faith in Divine Providence
2. Love your country
3. Respect the Constitution
4. Pay your taxes
5. Safeguard the purity of suffrage
6. Love and respect your parents
7. Value your honor
8. Be truthful and be honest in thought
9. Lead a clean and frugal life
10. Live up to the noble traditions of our people
11. Be industrious
12. Rely on your own efforts
13. Do your work cheerfully, thoroughly, and well
14. Contribute to the welfare of your community
15. Cultivate the habit of using goods made in the
Philippines
16. Use and develop our natural resources
 ACCORDING TO FORMER PRESIDENT MANUEL L.
QUEZON, “THE LIFE OF A NATION DEPENDS UPON
THE MORAL AND VIRTUE OF ITS CITIZENS”.
• A nation, if it is to grow up strong and
progressive, must be moved by the
force of its own dynamic moral
energy. The seeds of moral discipline
must be nurtured from within, not
from without. History teaches that the
rise and fall of nations depend
essentially upon the underlying moral
strength of their citizens. And the
frantic despair and the spiritual
blackout now experienced by many
nations of the world are due primarily
to their failure to grasp this basic fact.
• Character means strength
and power and will.
Character, however, may be
true or false, right or wrong,
good or evil. In any case, it is
the man of character that
molds and shapes the
destinies of men and of
nations, for weal or for woe.
Hence, the transcendental
importance of giving our
people the proper and correct
character training.
• The Code of Ethics is
designed to formulate a way of
life for free people which must
be didactic rather than
legislative. The code is drawn
on the history and culture of
the people for whose benefit it
is promulgated. In our quest
for inspiration you are taught
to direct your gaze upon our
own heroes, our own traditions
and our own history. The
genius of our past must kindle
the throbbing mind of the
present and inspire the future
• This “Code of Ethics” is not to foster exaggerated
nationalism, or to glorify narrow and blind patriotism. Its
object is higher, purer, nobler. It is to strengthen your
moral fiber as a youth; to keep alive in your hearts the
value of ethical principles; and to proclaim the truth that
moral discipline is your only sure road to national
greatness.
THANK YOU &
GOD BLESS!