Rules on PH Coat-of-Arms and Great Seal

Legal basis and cited laws

Executive Order No. 341 is enacted under Commonwealth Act No. 602, as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 614.
Executive Order No. 341 bases the design and baseline rules for the national Coat-of-Arms used “as insignia of the armed forces” on Commonwealth Act No. 602, as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 614.
Executive Order No. 341 ties penalties for certain prohibited uses to section 2 of Commonwealth Act No. 602.
Executive Order No. 341 revokes Executive Order No. 313 dated December 23, 1940.

National Coat-of-Arms design rules

The National Coat-of-Arms is defined with specific heraldic elements and color scheme as follows.
The Arms are described as paleways of two pieces, azure (blue) and gules (red); a chief argent (silver) studded with three golden stars equidistant from each other; over all the arms of Manila, per fess gules (red) and argent (silver); in chief the castle of Spain (gold) with doors and windows argent (silver); in base a sea lion or (gold), langued and armed gules (red), with the dexter paw a sword hilted or (gold).
The Crest is defined as the American eagle displayed proper, stated as the symbol of American sovereignty.
The Scroll is required beneath the arms, bearing the words “Commonwealth of the Philippines”, and is placed just below but without touching the seal proper.

Other local Coat-of-Arms adoption

Provinces and chartered cities are authorized to adopt and use their own Coat-of-Arms, showing local heraldry with geographical, industrial or historical characteristics that distinguish them from other parts of the country.
Local adoption is made upon recommendation of the Philippine Heraldry Committee created by Executive Order No. 310 dated December 4, 1940, and is subject to approval of the President.
Coat-of-Arms already granted and in use during the Spanish regime (including the Coat-of-Arms Manila) may be retained.

Great Seal of the Government rules

The Great Seal of the Government is defined as circular in form using the arms described for the national Coat-of-Arms in paragraph 1, but without the scroll and the inscription.
The Great Seal includes a double marginal circle; within it, the upper portion contains “Commonwealth of the Philippines” and the lower portion contains “United States of America”, divided by two small five-pointed stars.
For placement purposes, the colors of the arms are not treated as essential for the Great Seal.
The Great Seal remains in the custody of the President of the Philippines.
The Great Seal is to be affixed to or placed upon all commissions signed by the President and upon other official documents and papers of the Commonwealth of the Philippines when provided by law or required by custom and usage in the President’s discretion.

Other seals and where they may appear

The official seals of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the various Departments must be similar to the Great Seal, except in the wording around the ring and with a size not to exceed 7/8 of the Great Seal or 2-3/4 inches in diameter.
The official seals of the Court of Appeals, other courts, commissions, bureaus, and other government offices or entities must contain the Coat-of-Arms proper without the crest or scroll, and include around the ring the name of the government entity, with a size not to exceed 2/3 of the Great Seal or 2 inches in diameter.
If authorized by law, provinces, cities, municipalities, and other political subdivisions may keep appropriate seals considered their corporate or official seals, which must follow the sizing and design requirements for official seals, and may emblazon the local Coat-of-Arms prescribed in paragraph 2.
Administrative seals used commonly on papers of routine internal administration are only ordinary “office seals” and are not official or corporate seals; they must not bear the Government Coat-of-Arms.

Coat-of-Arms and Great Seal limits

Only the personal flag of the President of the Philippines bears the national Coat-of-Arms in full colors.
Personal flags for other officials, when authorized, must display in the center the seal device of the corresponding department.
When used as insignia of the armed forces, the national Coat-of-Arms must be used without modification whatsoever as prescribed in Commonwealth Act No. 602, as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 614, while proper heraldic designs as embellishment or supports are authorized.
The Coat-of-Arms must not be used as a background for police badges, except that the shield proper only may be used without the crest, with a scroll bearing the name of the city or municipality, and with or without heraldic embellishment or support.
Government vessels (except tug-boats, cascos, dredges or any watercraft for marine labor) and government plans may use the Coat-of-Arms in full colors, gold or silver as required by regulations of the different departments.
The Coat-of-Arms must not be painted on government cars or railway coaches, except those personally or officially used by the President of the Philippines (in full colors) and those officially used by the Vice-President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (in silver).
If used in plate-numbers to indicate government ownership, the outline form of the shield only without any emblazoning is sufficient.
The use of the Coat-of-Arms and the Great Seal in Philippine coins or Philippine currency of any kind requires authority of the President of the Philippines.

Restrictions on private use and commercial exploitation

The national Coat-of-Arms may be used in letter-heads and envelopes for official purposes only; private or personal correspondence use by any government employee is dealt with administratively.
The national Coat-of-Arms may not be used in personal stationery, name cards, or greetings cards, except for the President of the Philippines, Vice-President, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chief of Justice of the Supreme Court.
Authorized personal stationery use must follow color/dry seal directions: the President of the Philippines may use the Coat-of-Arms in full colors (gold, silver or dry seal as may be directed), while the others authorized may use in dry seal, gold or silver.
The national Coat-of-Arms proper, without the crest and the scroll, may be used in the personal stationery of: members of the Cabinet, members of the Congress of the Philippines, judges of any court of record, commissioners, generals of the armed forces, bureau directors, provincial governors, and city mayors.
The use of the Coat-of-Arms and Great Seal as trade-marks, advertisements, or labels for commercial, industrial, or agricultural purposes by private persons, corporations, or associations is prohibited, and violations are punishable under section 2 of Commonwealth Act No. 602.
The printing or stamping of the Coat-of-Arms and Great Seal on articles or commodities intended for sale, barter, or exchange is prohibited, and violations are punishable under section 2 of Commonwealth Act No. 602.
The display or use of the national Coat-of-Arms or Great Seal in cockpits, club houses or buildings dedicated to gambling of any kind, public dance halls, dancing schools, and show-houses is prohibited, and violations are dealt with as provided in section 2 of Commonwealth Act No. 602.
When the Coat-of-Arms and Great Seal are used in the interior of private residences and/or commercial houses as national decorations, they must occupy a place of prominence, like the national flag.

Revocation and continuing effect

Executive Order No. 313 dated December 23, 1940 is revoked by Executive Order No. 341.
The rules set out for design and use of the national Coat-of-Arms and Great Seal govern the guidance and observance of corresponding government authorities and everyone concerned.