EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 343

: The Executive Order is Executive Order No. 343, dated June 12, 1996.
: It adopts the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat as the official pledge of allegiance for all Filipinos.
: The National Commission for Culture and the Arts finalized the pledge from a draft prepared by the Commission on the Filipino Language.
: The main purpose is to evoke a proper sense of history and nationhood among Filipino citizens and to formalize a soul-stirring pledge of loyalty to the nation.
: The President of the Republic of the Philippines, by powers vested in him by law, has the authority to adopt and institutionalize the pledge.
: The core values are dignity (dangal), justice (katarungan), freedom (kalayaan), devotion to God (Maka-Diyos), compassion for others (Maka-tao), and nationalism (Makabansa).
: Each citizen is directed to learn the pledge, reflect on its words, and internalize the dedication to nationhood it expresses.
: The Executive Order took effect immediately upon signing on June 12, 1996.
: It links the pledge adoption to the centennial celebration of the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1998.
: The Executive Secretary, Ruben D. Torres, also signed the Executive Order.