Policy and intent: patriotism and pride
- Reverence and respect for the accepted symbols of national solidarity are declared indicative of true patriotism and love of country.
- The issuance is directed to develop and consecrate virtues and to inculcate in the minds of the people a just pride in the native land.
National flag: mandatory display rules
- The National Flag alone shall be displayed in all public buildings, official residences, public squares, and institutions of learning every day throughout the year.
- The National Flag shall be raised at sunrise and lowered at sundown, remain flying throughout the day, and shall not stay flying after the sun has set except when specially prescribed.
- The flagstaff must be straight and slightly and gently tapering at the end.
- The National Flag shall be permanently hoisted, day and night, in front of: Malacañang (the official residence of the President), the Congress of the Philippines building, the Supreme Court building, at the Rizal Monument in Luneta, and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Libingan ng mga Bayani.
- The National Flag shall be displayed on national holidays or special holidays as the President may proclaim, in the same public locations, and whenever practicable also in all private buildings and homes from sunrise to sunset.
National flag: ceremonial handling and positioning
- The National Flag shall never be used to return the salute of any individual or organization.
- The National Flag shall never be dipped by way of compliment or salute to or for any person, except when used for exchanging courtesy as an official act between States.
- When the National Flag is flown from a flagpole, the blue field must be on top in time of peace and the red field on top in time of war; when in a hanging position, the blue field must be to the right (left of the observer) in time of peace and the red field to the right in time of war.
- In hoisting, the Flag must be raised briskly to the top-end of the flagpole, and the pole must be planted in a prominent place and higher than the roof of the principal building (or positioned to give the Flag a commanding position within the compound); if the pole is attached to a building, it must be on top of its roof, and if placed at a window, it must project to an angle pointing upward.
- When the National Flag is used together with the flag of the Armed Forces, a civil organization, or another nation, it must always be above or on the right of the other flag; in a parade with foreign nations’ flags, it must always be in front of the center of the line of the other flags.
National flag: saluting and public conduct
- When the Flag is passing in a parade or in a review, people who are walking shall halt, uncover, stand at attention, and salute; people who are sitting shall uncover, stand at attention, and salute.
- While the National Flag is being raised or lowered and while the National Anthem is being played, the people shall face the Flag, uncover, stand at attention and salute.
- Moving vehicles shall stop, and passengers shall alight, uncover, stand at attention, and salute while the Flag and Anthem observances are ongoing.
- When lowering the Flag, no part of the Flag shall touch the ground; it shall be handled and folded reverently.
National flag: prohibited uses and restrictions
- The public display of foreign flags is prohibited except in foreign diplomatic establishments such as chanceries, embassies, consulates, or other places authorized by bilateral or international agreement, or in international conferences of which the Philippines is a member, or on national holidays of foreign countries.
- On a foreign country’s national holiday, any foreign flag must be displayed together with the National Flag, with the National Flag occupying the place of honor (on the right of the foreign flag) and the National Flag must not be smaller than the foreign flag.
- The Philippine National Flag shall not be hoisted or displayed in front of buildings owned or occupied by alien individuals or corporations, except on the Philippine national and special holidays or on their national holidays, subject to the foreign-flag holiday placement rule.
- The National Flag shall never be festooned and shall always hang with nothing covering its surface.
- The National Flag must always occupy the highest place of honor and shall not be placed under any picture or below a person.
- The National Flag shall never be used as a staff or whip, or covering for tables, or curtain for doorways.
- However, the Armed Forces may use the National Flag to cover the casket of their honored dead, including deceased civilians who had rendered services in the Army, Navy, or civil office of great responsibility, using the specified color orientation: the white triangle of the sun and stars over the head end, blue stripe to the right and red to the left of the deceased, with both colors evenly divided on each side of the casket.
- The Flag shall never be lowered to the grave or allowed to touch the ground except as authorized under Republic Act No. 3934.
- Wreaths of flowers shall not be placed on top of a flag-shrouded casket.
- A cross may be placed over the Flag as a symbol of God above Country.
- No imprint shall be made on the Flag, and the Flag shall not be marred by advertisement or in any manner desecrated.
- The Flag shall not be worn as a whole or part of a costume.
- The Flag shall not be used as a pennant in the hood or in any part of a motor vehicle except in celebration of any national or special holiday as the President may designate.
- It is inappropriate to use the Flag in a dancing pavilion or in any place where hilarity is prevailing.
- Use of the Flag inside or outside a cockpit, club, or other places where gambling or other vices are held is prohibited.
- The National Flag shall never be used as a covering for a statue or monument and shall not be used to unveil the same.
National flag: mourning, replacement, and disposal
- The Flag may be hoisted at half-mast in sign of mourning.
- To display the Flag at half-mast, it must first be hoisted to full-mast, allowed to fly there for a moment, and then brought to half-mast.
- When hoisted at half-mast, it may be raised but not lowered.
- To lower the Flag at sunset or at any other time when ordered, it must again be hoisted to full-mast before bringing it down.
- The Flag may be hoisted at half-mast by authority of the President in cases of national mourning or on such other occasions as he may designate, or at the discretion of Department Heads or chief local officials in accordance with the regulations prescribed in Executive Order No. 166 dated October 8, 1938, as amended.
- A National Flag worn out through wear and tear shall not be thrown on a garbage heap or used as rag; it shall be reverently burned to avoid misuse or desecration.
- Government offices and educational institutions shall not display worn-out or tattered flags and shall replace them immediately.
National anthem: when and how it must be used
- The National Anthem shall not be played except on public acts of official or semi-official character or in formal ceremonies of civic nature.
- People in the immediate vicinity outdoors shall face the band, uncover, and stand at attention.
- Whenever a band is present during the lowering of the Flag, the National Anthem shall be played by the band.
- The Flag shall be lowered slowly so that the termination of lowering coincides with the last note of the music.
- Anyone present shall face the Flag and stand at attention under the saluting rules applicable during the ceremony.
- If the National Anthem is played indoors, everyone present shall stand at attention and face the band.
- The National Anthem shall not be played and sung for mere recreation, amusement, or entertainment purposes in purely private social gatherings, or at political partisan meetings, or at places of hilarious or vicious amusement.
- The National Anthem shall be sung in schools so children may know it by heart.
- The National Anthem shall always be sung in Filipino, whether here or abroad.
Manner of saluting: civilians and uniformed groups
- Members of the Armed Forces and those belonging to semi-military and police organizations in uniform shall adopt the military salute provided in their regulations.
- Civilians outdoors shall stand at attention; if wearing hats, civilians shall uncover and hold the hats over their hearts.
- Complete silence shall be observed during the ceremony, and no one shall be allowed to walk around while the ceremony is going on.
Final provisions: signing and identity
- The issuance is done in the City of Manila on January 07, 1965, and signed by Diosdado Macapagal, President of the Philippines.
- The issuance is countersigned by Salvador L. Mariao, Secretary of Justice concurrently Acting Executive Secretary.