Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 217)
Section five of Article XIII of the Philippine Constitution mandates that all schools shall aim to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and to teach the duties of citizenship.
The Secretary of Public Instruction was directed by the President to require all schools to teach the prescribed civic and ethical principles.
The defense of the country is regarded as a primary duty of a Filipino citizen, and one must be ready to sacrifice and die for it if necessary.
The Constitution is the expression of the sovereign will of the people, and the government established under it is for the safety and welfare of the citizens; thus, respecting the Constitution and obeying the laws is mandatory.
Citizens are required to obey laws, ensure that they are observed by all, and see that public officials comply with their duties.
Citizens should pay their taxes willingly and promptly, recognizing that citizenship involves both rights and obligations.
It mandates safeguarding the purity of suffrage and abiding by the decisions of the majority.
Citizens should love and respect their parents and serve them well, value their honor as they value their life, and uphold truthfulness and honesty in thought and action.
It encourages being industrious, not being afraid or ashamed of manual labor, relying on one's efforts for progress, persevering in ambitions, and doing work cheerfully, thoroughly, and well.
A citizen should contribute to the welfare of the community, promote social justice, and recognize their responsibilities to society beyond their own family.
Citizens should cultivate the habit of using goods made in the Philippines, patronize local products and trades, and conserve natural resources for posterity as an inalienable heritage of the people.
It advises citizens not to traffic with their citizenship, implying that citizenship should not be misused or treated as a commodity.