SENATE President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III has filed a bill seeking to strengthen civic education by integrating the study of the 1987 Constitution into the basic education curriculum and institutionalizing the annual observance of Constitution Day in schools.

Senate Bill No. 2405, or the Strengthening Civic Education Act, aims to ensure that Filipino students develop a deeper understanding of the country’s fundamental law, its principles, and the rights and responsibilities it guarantees.

In the bill’s explanatory note, Sotto said the Constitution serves as the “fundamental law of the land” and remains the foundation of the country’s system of government and democratic institutions.

He noted that despite being the supreme law of the land, many Filipinos are not fully familiar with its provisions, resulting in limited appreciation of the rights, policies, and guiding principles it upholds.

Sotto emphasized that introducing constitutional education at an early age would help students better understand how the government operates and foster informed citizenship as they progress through school and later in life.

The measure also seeks to institutionalize Constitution Day observances in schools as part of efforts to promote civic consciousness and strengthen respect for democratic values.