SENATE President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is pushing for stronger civic education by integrating the study of the Constitution into the basic education curriculum and institutionalizing the observance of Constitution Day in schools.

Under Senate Bill No. 2405, or the proposed *Constitutional Education Act*, Sotto seeks to promote greater awareness and understanding of the 1987 Constitution among Filipino students.

In his explanatory note, Sotto emphasized that the Constitution is the fundamental law of the land, to which all other laws must conform and all citizens, including the country’s highest officials, must adhere.

“The Constitution is the basic and paramount law to which all other laws must conform and to which all persons, including the highest officials of the land, must defer,” Sotto said.

He described the Constitution as the backbone of the country’s system of government, serving as the foundation from which governmental powers and authority emanate.

However, Sotto noted that despite its importance, many Filipinos remain unfamiliar with the Constitution’s provisions and the principles that guide the country’s governance.

“Thus, there is a lack of appreciation among our countrymen on what the Constitution provides—the principles, policies, and rights it bestows on the Filipino citizens and its guidance to our nation’s overall development,” he said.

Sotto stressed the need to establish mechanisms that would enable Filipinos to learn about the Constitution, understand its provisions, and gain a deeper appreciation of how it governs the country’s institutions and operations.

He said the classroom is an ideal setting for instilling constitutional knowledge among young Filipinos, emphasizing the importance of introducing the subject early in their education and reinforcing it as they develop their critical-thinking skills.

Through the proposed legislation, Sotto aims to strengthen civic awareness among students and help them better understand their constitutional rights, responsibilities, and the principles underpinning Philippine democracy.