National Territory
- Defines Philippine national territory to include land, waters, subsoil, seabed, aerial domains, internal waters including waters connecting islands.
- Territorial subdivisions include autonomous regions, provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays.
Filipino Citizenship
- Defines citizenship categories: citizens at adoption of Constitution, those with Filipino parents, naturalized citizens, etc.
- Clarifies retention or loss of citizenship through marriage or naturalization.
- States dual allegiance is disfavored.
State Immunity and Responsibility
- State cannot be sued without consent.
- State bound only by acts of duly authorized representatives.
- State not liable for officers' mistakes in good faith.
National Symbols and Official Language
- Defines national flag, anthem, great seal, and their usage.
- Official languages are Pilipino and English until otherwise provided.
Operation and Effect of Laws
- Laws effective 15 days after publication.
- Laws generally have prospective effect.
- Provides rules on interpretation, revival, and ignorance of laws.
Official Gazette
- Publishes all public legislative acts, executive issuances, court decisions, etc.
- Edited under the Office of the President and released weekly.
Holidays
- Lists regular and special national holidays and authorizes proclamation of local holidays.
- Provides rules about pretermission of actions falling on holidays.
Legal Weights and Measures
- Metric system mandated for official use across sectors.
- Allows transition period for those using other systems.
- Defines legal periods (year, month, day, night).
Principles Governing Public Officers
- Public office is a public trust.
- Requires declaration of assets by public officials.
- Prohibits purchase of government tax sale properties by officers.
- Defines scope of liabilities for officers and subordinates.
Oaths and Reports
- Requires oath of office for all public officers and employees.
- Specifies officers who may administer oaths.
- Mandates annual reports from department heads to President.
Public Contracts and Conveyances
- Provides rules on execution of government contracts and conveyance of property.
- Specifies authority for conveyances by various government officials.
- Sets contract approval limits and procedures, including public bidding with exceptions.
- Establishes Prequalification, Bids and Awards Committees.
Dispute Resolution among Government Entities
- Sets administrative resolution procedures for disputes involving government entities.
- Specifies roles of Secretary of Justice and Solicitor General in dispute settlement.
- Provides for arbitration and appeals to the President.
Foreign Affairs Department
- Designated as lead agency for foreign relations.
- Powers include treaty negotiation, promotion of trade and tourism, protecting nationals abroad.
- Structured into Department Proper, Foreign Service Establishments, and specialized offices.
- Provides for diplomatic mission functions, attachés, and staffing policies.
- Foreign Service Officers require examination and follow regulations for appointment, promotion, assignments, and retirement.
- Passport issuance rules and control included.
Finance Department
- Manages fiscal policies and government resources.
- Functions include revenue collection, debt management, policy formulation.
- Organizational structure includes Policy Development Group and Operations Groups.
- Includes Bureaus such as Internal Revenue, Customs, Treasury, and Local Government Finance.
- Performs intelligence and audit functions related to economic activities.
Justice Department
- Serves as principal law agency and prosecution arm.
- Administers criminal justice system, land registration, immigration, and legal aid.
- Composed of multiple units, including Public Attorney's Office, National Bureau of Investigation, and Solicitor General's Office.
Agriculture Department
- Promotes development of agriculture and fisheries.
- Provides services, research, extension, and regulation.
- Structured into groups focusing on production, research, agri-business, and support.
- Operates through bureaus and regional offices with specific responsibilities.
- Enforces plant and animal quarantine regulations.
Public Works and Highways Department
- Engineering and construction arm for infrastructure.
- Oversees planning, design, construction, maintenance of national highways, flood control, and water resources.
- Decentralized operational structure with regional and district offices.
- Consists of specialized bureaus such as Research and Standards, Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Equipment.
Education, Culture and Sports Department
- Regulates formal and non-formal education, culture and sports.
- Includes bureaus responsible for different educational levels and functions.
- Oversees state colleges and universities.
- Enforces rules on medium of instruction, school holidays, rituals, and establishment of local school boards.
Labor and Employment Department
- Promotes employment, industrial peace, workers' welfare.
- Enforces labor laws, manages wage policies, and employment regulation.
- Structured into bureaus focusing on labor relations, employment, working conditions, etc.
- Includes services for overseas labor affairs and dispute mediation.
National Defense Department
- Maintains national security and defense forces.
- Civilian authority over the military.
- Composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Military Academy, and other units.
- Provides for National Security Council and National Intelligence Coordination.
- Integrated National Police and National Police Commission structures included.
Health Department
- Protects and promotes public health.
- Administers health services, certification, and regulation of facilities.
- Organizes multiple specialized services for community health, disease control, hospital operations, and standards.
- Includes various health-related research centers and national health facilities.
Trade and Industry Department
- Promotes industrial development and trade.
- Regulates trade practices and protects consumers.
- Encourages private sector participation and oversees investment promotion.
- Structural organization includes offices for policy, operational planning, trade divisions, and regional offices.
Agrarian Reform Department
- Implements land redistribution and support programs.
- Administers acquisition, valuation, development, and distribution of agricultural lands.
- Supports agrarian reform beneficiaries through legal assistance, education, and development programs.
- Organized into regional, provincial, and team offices.
Local Government Department
- Supports local government autonomy and decentralization.
- Provides supervision, assistance, and development programs for local government units.
- Administers local laws, promotes citizen participation, and manages preparedness for emergencies.
- Contains bureaus responsible for supervision, development, public affairs, and operation of local government.
Tourism Department
- Develops tourism industry and promotes the Philippines as tourist destination.
- Regulates standards of tourism facilities and travel agencies.
- Operates promotional bureaus domestically and internationally.
- Manages regional and foreign offices and attached bodies.
Environment and Natural Resources Department
- Manages and conserves natural resources ensuring sustainable development.
- Regulates forest, mineral, water, wildlife, and pollution control.
- Organized into bureaus focusing on forestry, lands, mining, environmental management, ecosystems, and protected areas.
- Operates regional and community field offices.
Transportation and Communications Department
- Develops and regulates transport and communication networks.
- Oversees postal, air, land transport, and telecommunications.
- Administers regulatory boards and commissions.
- Incorporates regional and field offices.
Social Welfare and Development Department
- Provides social welfare, protection, and rehabilitation.
- Supports families, disabled, children, youth, women, and elderly.
- Accredits social work agencies and regulates fund drives.
- Structures include bureaus, field offices, and regional units.
Budget and Management Department
- Formulates and implements national budget.
- Controls government expenditures and personnel compensation.
- Reviews and coordinates budgets across agencies.
- Enforces discipline over improper expenditures.
Science and Technology Department
- Leads national science and technology development.
- Supports research, education, information, and technological innovation.
- Composed of sectoral councils, research institutes, and regional offices.
Constitutional Commissions
- Includes Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit, and Commission on Elections.
- Civil Service Commission oversees merit system, personnel standards, and discipline.
- Commission on Audit audits government financials and ensures fiscal responsibility.
- Commission on Elections administers election laws, supervises elections and results.
Other Constitutional Bodies
- Commission on Human Rights promotes protection and adjudication of human rights.
- Office of the Ombudsman investigates and prosecutes public office wrongdoing.
- National Economic and Development Authority serves as central planning agency for socio-economic development.
Administrative Procedures
- Provides rules on rule-making, adjudication, contested cases, and appeals.
- Promotes transparency, notice and due process.
- Establishes mechanisms for administrative appeal and judicial review.
Final Provisions
- Repeals all inconsistent laws.
- Separability clause to maintain other provisions if one is invalidated.
- Code effective one year after publication in Official Gazette.