Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 310)
The purpose of Executive Order No. 310 is to prescribe the design and use of the Coat-of-Arms, Seal, and Flag of the President and Vice President of the Philippines, and to provide regulations for their proper use and respect.
The Coat-of-Arms, Seal, and Flag are exclusively meant for the use of the President and the Vice President of the Philippines, respectively, and no other officials.
The President's Coat-of-Arms includes a circular blue shield with an eight-rayed golden-yellow Philippine sun at the center, a red equilateral triangle overlapping the sun, a golden-yellow sea lion at the center holding a sword, three five-pointed golden-yellow stars at each corner of the triangle representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and stars around the shield's edge equal to the number of provinces in the Philippines.
The Seal of the President consists of the President's Coat-of-Arms surrounded by a white circle enclosed by two golden-yellow marginal rings. The circle contains the words "Sagisag ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas" in black letters on the upper arc, with three five-pointed golden-yellow stars dividing the lower arc.
The Flag of the President consists of the President's Coat-of-Arms in proper colors on a rectangular blue background matching the color in Republic Act No. 8491, with a fringe of knotted yellow silk, and a ratio of 1:2.
The Vice President's Coat-of-Arms features a circular white shield with the eight-rayed golden-yellow Philippine sun, a red equilateral triangle with the golden-yellow sea lion holding a sword at the center, and three five-pointed golden-yellow stars at the triangle's corners, without the stars encircling the shield's edge seen in the President's Coat-of-Arms.
Permitted uses include for encyclopedias, dictionaries, books, journals, museums, educational facilities, architectural embellishments, photographic or electronic reproduction for bona fide news content, and other authorized historical, educational, or newsworthy purposes with written authorization from the Office of Presidential Protocol.
The manufacture, reproduction, sale, purchase for sale, use, display, or possession in commercial quantity of the symbols or their likenesses is prohibited except for the authorized uses, and the use of stationery or identification materials bearing the symbols by persons other than the President or Vice President is strictly prohibited.
Violations shall be dealt with administratively, civilly, and criminally, though specific penalties are not detailed in the Order itself.
The Office of the Presidential Protocol in consultation with the National Historical Institute shall prepare the IRR, which will include a comprehensive usage manual subject to approval by the Office of the President.
It repeals Executive Order No. 38 dated January 7, 1947, as amended by Executive Order No. 457 dated July 4, 1951, and Executive Order No. 19 dated August 27, 1998, as well as any other inconsistent Presidential directives or issuances.
It took effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.