ARTICLE 1

NATIONAL TERRITORY
ARTICLE II
DDECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
AND STATE POLICIES
SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

SECTION 4

SECTION 5

SECTION 6
SECTION 1. The Philippines is a
democratic and republican State.
Sovereignty resides in the people and
all government authority emanates
from them.
SECTION 2. The Philippines renounces war
as an instrument of national policy, adopts
the generally accepted principles of
international law as part of the law of the
land and adheres to the policy of peace,
equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and
amity with all nations.
SECTION 3. Civilian authority is, at all
times, supreme over the military. The
Armed Forces of the Philippines is the
protector of the people and the State. Its
goal is to secure the sovereignty of the
State and the integrity of the national
territory.
SECTION 4. The prime duty of the
Government is to serve and protect the
people. The Government may call upon
the people to defend the State and, in
the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may
be required, under conditions provided
by law, to render personal military or
civil service.
SECTION 5. The maintenance of peace
and order, the protection of life,
liberty, and property, and the
promotion of the general welfare are
essential for the enjoyment by all the
people of the blessings of democracy.
SECTION 6. The separation of
Church and State shall be
inviolable.
SECTION 7 SECTION 15
SECTION 8 SECTION 16
SECTION 9 SECTION 17

SECTION 10 SECTION 18

SECTION 11 SECTION 19

SECTION 12 SECTION 20

SECTION 13 SECTION 21

SECTION 14 SECTION 22
SECTION 23 SECTION 26

SECTION 24 SECTION 27

SECTION 25 SECTION 28
SECTION 7. The State shall pursue an
independent foreign policy. In its
relations with other states the
paramount consideration shall be
national sovereignty, territorial
integrity, national interest, and the
right to self-determination.
SECTION 8. The Philippines,
consistent with the national
interest, adopts and pursues a
policy of freedom from nuclear
weapons in its territory.
SECTION 9. The State shall promote a just
and dynamic social order that will ensure
the prosperity and independence of the
nation and free the people from poverty
through policies that provide adequate
social services, promote full employment, a
rising standard of living, and an improved
quality of life for all.
SECTION 10. The State
shall promote social
justice in all phases of
national development
SECTION 11. The State values the
dignity of every human person
and guarantees full respect for
human rights.
SECTION 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of
family life and shall protect and strengthen the
family as a basic autonomous social institution. It
shall equally protect the life of the mother and
the life of the unborn from conception. The
natural and primary right and duty of parents in
the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and
the development of moral character shall receive
the support of the Government.
SECTION 13. 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.
SECTION 14. The State recognizes
the role of women in nation-
building, and shall ensure the
fundamental equality before the law
of women and men.
SECTION 15. The State shall protect
and promote the right to health of
the people and instill health
consciousness among them.
SECTION 16. The State shall protect
and advance the right of the
people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with the rhythm
and harmony of nature
SECTION 17. The State shall give priority
to education, science and technology,
arts, culture, and sports to foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate
social progress, and promote total human
liberation and development.
SECTION 18. The State affirms labor
as a primary social economic force.
It shall protect the rights of workers
and promote their welfare.
SECTION 19. The State shall develop a
self-reliant and independent national
economy effectively controlled by
Filipinos.
SECTION 20. The State recognizes the
indispensable role of the private sector,
encourages private enterprise, and
provides incentives to needed
investments.
SECTION 21. The State shall promote
comprehensive rural development
and agrarian reform.
SECTION 22. The State recognizes
and promotes the rights of
indigenous cultural communities
within the framework of national
unity and development.
SECTION 23. The State shall encourage
non-governmental, community-based,
or sectoral organizations that promote
the welfare of the nation.
SECTION 24. The State recognizes
the vital role of communication
and information in nation-
building.
SECTION 25. The State shall
ensure the autonomy of local
governments.
SECTION 26. The State shall
guarantee equal access to
opportunities for public service, and
prohibit political dynasties as may
be defined by law.
SECTION 27. The State shall
maintain honesty and integrity in
the public service and take positive
and effective measures against graft
and corruption.
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.
Article III of the Philippine Constitution is
the Bill of Rights. It establishes the
relationship of the individual to the State
and defines the rights of the individual by
limiting the lawful powers of the State. It is
one of the most important political
achievements of the Filipinos.
Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution,
Article
UnderIV, the
Section
19871,Philippine
it states that . Those
whose fathers orArticle
Constitution, mothersIV, are citizens of the
Philippines;
Section 1,Those born
it states before
that: ... January 17,
1973, of Filipino
Those mothers,
whose fathers or who elect
Philippine
motherscitizenship
are citizensupon reaching the age
of the
of majority;
Philippines;and. Those
Those bornwho are naturalized
before
in accordance
January 17, of law.of Filipino
1973,
mothers, who elect Philippine
citizenship upon reaching the
age of majority; and. Those
who are naturalized in
Suffrage may be exercised by all
citizens of the Philippines not
otherwise disqualified by law, who are
at least eighteen years of age, and who
shall have resided in the Philippines for
at least one year, and in the place
wherein they propose to vote, for at
least six months immediately
preceding the election.
The legislative power shall be vested in
the Congress of the Philippines which
shall consist of a Senate and a House of
Representatives, except to the extent
reserved to the people by the provision
on initiative and referendum.
The executive power shall be vested in the
President of the Philippines. No person may be
elected President unless he is a natural-born
citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able
to read and write, at least forty years of age on
the day of the election, and a resident of the
Philippines for at least ten years immediately
preceding such election.
Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of
justice to settle actual controversies involving
rights which are legally demandable and
enforceable, and to determine whether or not
there has been a grave abuse of discretion
amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the
part of any branch or instrumentality of the
Government.
The Constitutional Commissions,
which shall be independent, are
the Civil Service Commission, the
Commission on Elections, and the
Commission on Audit.
The 1987 Philippine Constitution
recognizes the right of the local
government units to share in the
national taxes. Section 6 Article X of
the 1987 Constitution provides:
"[l]ocal government units shall have a
just share, as determined by law, in
the national taxes which shall be
automatically released to them.
Public office is a public trust. Public officers
and employees must, at all times, be
accountable to the people, serve them with
utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and
efficiency; act with patriotism and justice,
and lead modest lives.
The goals of the national economy are a more
equitable distribution of opportunities, income,
and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount
of goods and services produced by the nation for
the benefit of the people; and an expanding
productivity as the key to raising the quality of
life for all, especially the underprivileged.
The Congress shall give highest priority to the
enactment of measures that protect and
enhance the right of all the people to human
dignity, reduce social, economic, and political
inequalities, and remove cultural inequities by
equitably diffusing wealth and political power for
the common good.
The State shall protect and promote the
right of all citizens to quality education at
all levels and shall take appropriate steps to
make such education accessible to all.
The State recognizes the Filipino
family as the foundation of the
nation. Accordingly, it shall
strengthen its solidarity and actively
promote its total development
The flag of the Philippines shall be
red, white, and blue, with a sun and
three stars, as consecrated and
honored by the people and
recognized by law.
Amendments to this Constitution may likewise be
directly proposed by the people through initiative
upon a petition of at least twelve per centum of the
total number of registered voters, of which every
legislative district must be represented by at least
three per centum of the registered voters therein. No
amendment under this section shall be authorized
within five years following the ratification of this
Constitution nor oftener than once every five years
thereafter.
Subsequently, President Corazon C. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 9, s. 1986 signed
on April 23, 1986, which created a Constitutional Commission tasked with writing a
new charter to replace the 1973 Constitution. The commission presented its work to
President Corazon Aquino on October 15, 1986. National Plebiscite was held on
February 2, 1987, ratifying the new constitution. On February 11, 1987, by virtue of
Proclamation No. 58, s. 1987, President Aquino announced the official canvassing of
results and the ratification of the draft constitution. The 1987 Constitution finally came
into full force and effect that same day with the President, other civilian officials, and
members of the Armed Forces swearing allegiance to the new charter. After the
ratification of the 1987 Constitution, President Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation
No. 211 s, 1988, which moved the commemoration of Constitution Day from January
17 to February 2 of every year.

Reference: Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines