Rules for Implementing Philippine Flag and Anthem

Policy, objectives, and interpretation

Section 2 declares State policy to prescribe the Code on national symbols, ensure promotion and implementation of its rules and regulations, and adopt effective administrative, regulatory, coordinative, and supervisory programs in conformity with national government policies.
Section 2 requires reverence and respect at all times for the flag, anthem, and other national symbols as embodying national ideals and traditions and expressing sovereignty and national solidarity.
Section 4 mandates that, in interpreting Republic Act No. 8491 and these rules, the interpretation that will promote or sustain reverence and respect for the flag, anthem, and other national symbols receives paramount consideration.

Coverage and application

Section 3 applies the rules to individuals, public and private entities, military and police agencies, and other branches or instrumentalities of the national and local government.
Section 3 covers government-owned and/or controlled corporations.
Section 3 requires observance throughout the entire territory of the Philippines as defined in the Constitution and laws.

Implementing agency and authority

Section 5 tasks the National Historical Institute (the Institute) to implement the rules.
Section 6 grants the Institute administrative, regulatory, and supervisory authority over implementation of Republic Act No. 8491 within Philippine territorial limits.
Section 6 requires the Institute to formulate, coordinate, regulate, plan, prepare, coordinate, monitor, and ensure compliance with Republic Act No. 8491 and these rules.
Section 6 expressly includes the following functions:
- (a) Formulate, coordinate, and regulate implementation of the Code, consistent with Republic Act No. 8491.
- (b) Plan and coordinate educational and information dissemination strategies to increase national awareness.
- (c) Coordinate and monitor implementation and ensure compliance; deputize, assign, and/or designate agencies, NGOs, major AFP and PNP branches/units, and other groups or individuals for implementing, monitoring, and coordinating tasks.
- (d) Set policies and procedures for concepts and design/visual interpretation of the national motto, coat-of-arms, LGU seals, and other forms/devices of national recognition, and enforce them strictly.
- (e) Formulate legal procedures, assistance, and coordinating systems for cases arising from violations of Republic Act No. 8491, including integration of the law into Shari’a Courts.
- (f) Perform other related functions to achieve the objectives of Republic Act No. 8491 and these rules.

Definitions used in the rules

Section 7(a) defines “Military” to include all branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines including the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Fire Protection.
Section 7(b) defines “Festoon” as to hang in a curved shape between two points as decoration.
Section 7(c) defines “National Flag” as the National Flag and Ensign of the Philippines (unless stated otherwise), used on land and sea by public, private, and military, and includes any flag or design likely to cause any person to believe it is the flag/design recognized in the Constitution, Republic Act No. 8491, and these rules.
Section 7(d)-(e) define “Fly” as the part of the flag outside the hoist/length, and “Hoist” as the sleeve or heading nearest the staff or canvass to which the halyard is attached.
Section 7(f)-(g) define “Symbol” and “Half-mast”: “Half-mast” means lowering the flag to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the pole.
Section 7(h)-(o) define “Halyard,” “Inclement Weather,” “National Anthem” (Lupang Hinirang), “Official Residences,” “Places of Frivolity,” “Advertisement or Infomercial,” “Heraldic Items and Devices,” “Government Entities,” and “Vexillary Items.”
Section 7(n) defines “Heraldic Items and Devices” to include coat-of-arms, seals, logos, insignia, badges, flashes, patches, orders and decorations, medals, stars, citations, lapel pins, trophies, seals (dry, wax, or wet), and imprints on letterheads, envelopes and cards.

National flag: design, display, ceremonies, mourning

Section 8 provides that the National Flag shall be blue, white, and red, with an eight rayed golden yellow sun and three five-pointed stars, as consecrated and honored by the people.
Section 9 requires display of the National Flag in all public buildings, official residences, public plazas, and institutions of learning every day throughout the year.
Section 10 requires permanent hoisting day and night throughout the year in specified national sites, including Malacañang Palace; Congress; Supreme Court; Rizal Monument (Luneta); Bonifacio Monument (Kalookan); Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine (Kawit, Cavite); Barasoain Church Historical Landmark (Malolos, Bulacan); Marcela Agoncillo Historical Landmark (Taal, Batangas); Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Libingan ng mga Bayani, Makati City); Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion (North Cemetery, Manila); all International Ports of Entry; and other places designated by the Institute; these flags must be properly illuminated at night.
Sections 11-12 require display for private buildings/residences on specified dates (April 9; May 1; May 28 to June 12; last Sunday of August; November 30; December 30) and on other President/local chief executive-declared/approved days; and require Government Entities to observe flag days with appropriate ceremonies, with socio-civic groups, NGOs, and the private sector enjoined to cooperate.
Section 13 requires the National Flag on all naval vessels and merchant ships of Philippine registry of more than 1,000 gross tons, and provides display/hoisting rules at sea/anchor; military/civil/state vessels must fly the flag, and pleasure/merchant/fishing boats or yachts are encouraged.
Section 14 requires the National Flag to be prominently displayed horizontally on aircraft of Philippine registry on the fuselage at the head portion, with hoist side pointing forward.
Sections 15-21 establish detailed hoisting/display orientation and rules, including:
- Peace/war field positioning (blue on top in peace; red on top in war; and corresponding rules for hanging position).
- Provisions on using the flag to signal assistance.
- Flagpole placement and size requirements for ground-planted poles (minimum flag length: one fourth (1/4) the height; maximum: one-third (1/3) the height), and a prohibition against equal/higher height than the Independence Flagpole at Rizal Park, Manila.
- Rules for co-displaying with other flags/house flags (order, precedence/protocol, and center/left placement rules).
- Requirement to burn worn-out flags solemnly to avoid misuse/desecration and to replace immediately when showing wear and tear signs.
- Sunrise/sunset timing and limitations during Inclement Weather (defined as when a typhoon signal is raised in the locality).
- Approved display modes (indoors and outdoors, flat against walls vertically, suspended positions, traffic road placements with specified directional blue-field requirements).
Sections 22-26 govern ceremonies:
- Section 22 requires brisk hoisting, ceremonious lowering, proper folding before the ceremony, no touching of the ground/base/object beneath the flag, and solemn handling and folding after lowering.
- Section 23 requires government offices to observe flag raising every Monday morning and flag lowering every Friday afternoon, and includes private establishments flying flags on flagpoles in their compounds.
- Section 23 requires primary and secondary schools and other learning institutions to observe ceremonies as ordered by Department of Education, Culture and Sports and/or Commission on Higher Education.
- Section 24 requires ceremonies to be simple and dignified.
- Section 25 requires formation, attention at the first National Anthem note, vehicle stopping, right-palm-over-chest placement, hat uncovering, and prescribed salutes for those in military/scouting/security guard/C.M.T. uniforms, completed upon the last anthem note; the same procedure applies when the National Flag passes in review/parade.
- Section 26 requires flag lowering solemnly and slowly so the flag is down at the sound of the last anthem note, with the same observance as flag raising.
Sections 27-28 set half-mast and casket rules:
- Section 27 requires half-mast mourning on buildings/places where displayed, on the day of official announcement of death for specified officials with exact durations:
  - President or former President: ten (10) days.
  - Vice-President, Chief Justice, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House: seven (7) days.
  - Cabinet Secretaries, Associate Justices, Senate and House Members, AFP Chief of Staff, PNP Director-General: five (5) days.
  - Heads of National Government Agencies (including GOCCs and government financial institutions): three (3) days.
  - Commanding Generals of Philippine Air Force and Philippine Army, and Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy: three (3) days.
  - Governors, Vice-Governors, city and municipal Mayors, city and municipal Vice-Mayors: three (3) days.
  - Sangguniang Panlalawigan/Panlungsod/Bayan members: on the day of interment.
  - Barangay Chairmen and Barangay Councilmen: on the day of interment.
  - Former national/local officials (not otherwise listed): on the day of interment within former territorial jurisdictions and by resolution of their respective Sanggunians.
  - Regional Directors, Superintendents, Supervisors, Principals, Teachers and other school officials: on the day of interment by order of the proper school authorities.
  - Recipients of national orders and decorations: on the day of interment by order of the President or Congress.
  - Other persons determined by the Institute for less than seven (7) days.
- Section 27 requires in cases “c” to “e” half-mast in front of the deceased official’s office building; and in cases “f” to “h” through Sanggunian Resolution or by order of the Local Chief Executive.
- Section 27 mandates procedure: first hoist to peak for a moment, lower to half-mast; raise back to peak before it is lowered for the day.
- Section 27 requires half-mast during calamities/tragedies of national or international significance as ordered by the Office of the President.
- Section 27 requires permanent half-mast day and night throughout the year at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio (Makati City), Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion, North Cemetery (Manila), and in all memorial cemeteries dedicated to war veterans; these flags must be properly illuminated at night.
- Section 28 allows the National Flag to cover caskets of honored dead of the military, veterans of previous wars, National Artists, and civilians who rendered distinguished service, as determined by the local government unit concerned; it requires placement of the white triangle at the head and the blue portion covering the right side of the casket, prohibits lowering to the grave or allowing it to touch the ground, and requires solemn folding and handing over to heirs/next of kin; it prohibits placing any object on top of the flag except religious objects symbolizing “God above Country”.

Flag pledge and National Flag Days

Section 29 provides the Pledge of Allegiance to the National Flag in Filipino, starting with:
- “Ako ay Pilipino… Buong katapatang nanunumpa… Sa watawat ng Pilipinas…”
Section 29 requires recitation right after singing of the National Anthem; it requires standing with the right palm open; it requires full respect by standing at attention for individuals whose faith or religious beliefs prohibit making such pledge.
Section 30 declares May 28 to June 12 of each year as National Flag Days, during which all offices/agencies/instrumentalities of government, business establishments, institutions of learning, private buildings, and homes must display the National Flag.
Section 31 requires concerned government offices and LGUs to display the National Flag on main thoroughfares, parks, plazas, and other public places.

Specifications and quality control

Section 32 sets proportional specifications: National Flag width is 1 and length is 2; it also sets the white triangle sides as 1.
Section 33 mandates technical color specifications using Cable numbers:
- Blue: Cable No. 80173
- White: Cable No. 80001
- Red: Cable No. 80108
- Golden-yellow: Cable No. 80068
Section 33 provides that the cable numbers are listed in the Tenth Edition of the Standard Color Reference of America, created and issued by the Color Association of the United States, No. 343 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, New York 10016, Series, 1981.
Section 34 requires uniform criteria and durability standards through strict compliance with design, color, craftsmanship, and material requirements of the Government for requisitions; and mandates:
- Annual submission by the manufacturer of one meter for each color of textile material to ITDI or PTRI of DOST for evaluation.
- Annual accreditation at the Institute for flag manufacturers, with submission of PTRI/ITDI laboratory test results, business license, permit, company profile, and other documents.
- Evaluation of samples submitted for government purchase by the Institute’s Heraldry and Display Section, which must stamp approval/disapproval on the canvas reinforcement; samples are sent to the Institute by the requisitioning office, not by the supplier.
Section 35 requires inspection of delivered National Flags requisitioned by government entities by the requisitioning office’s internal inspector and the Commission on Audit (COA) using the Institute-stamped “APPROVED” National Flag as reference; where confusion exists, the internal inspector and COA may send another random sample for re-evaluation by the Institute.
Section 36 requires accredited manufacturers to inform flag consumers of the provisions of these rules.
Section 37 requires all government entities to strictly comply with the National Flag standard requisitions and deliveries requirements under Republic Act No. 8491 and these rules.
Section 38 requires departments, agencies, offices, instrumentalities of government, GOCCs, LGUs including barangays to include in annual budgets the necessary outlay for purchasing the National Flag.

Prohibited acts regarding the National Flag

Section 39 prohibits mutilating, defacing, defiling, trampling on, casting contempt, or committing any act or omission casting dishonor or ridicule upon the National Flag or over its surface.
Section 39 prohibits dipping the National Flag to any person or object as a compliment or salute.
Section 39 prohibits using the National Flag:
- As drapery, festoon, or tablecloth.
- As covering for ceilings, walls, statues, or other objects.
- As a pennant in the hood, side, back, and top of motor vehicles.
- As a staff or whip.
- For unveiling monuments or statues.
- As trademarks, or for industrial, commercial, or agricultural labels or designs.
Section 39 prohibits displaying the National Flag:
- Under any painting or picture.
- Horizontally (it must always be hoisted aloft and allowed to fall freely).
- Below any platform.
- In discotheques, cockpits, night and day clubs, casinos, gambling joints, and places of vice or where frivolity prevails.
Section 39 prohibits wearing the National Flag in whole or in part as a costume or uniform.
Section 39 prohibits adding any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing, advertisement, or imprint of any nature on the National Flag.
Section 39 prohibits printing, painting, or attaching any representation of the National Flag on handkerchiefs, napkins, cushions, and articles of merchandise.
Section 39 prohibits displaying in public any foreign flag except in embassies and other diplomatic establishments and in offices of international organizations.
Section 39 prohibits using or displaying, or being part of any advertisement or infomercial.
Section 39 prohibits displaying the National Flag in front of buildings or offices occupied by aliens.

National anthem: lyrics, rendition, and conduct

Section 40 entitles the National Anthem as Lupang Hinirang.
Section 41 requires the National Anthem to always be sung in the national language within or outside the country and mandates the specific lyrics of “Lupang Hinirang.”
Section 42 requires that the rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, must follow the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe, and the original Filipino lyrics and march tempo adopted under Department Order No. 5 dated May 26, 1956 (covered by Circular No. 21 dated June 22, 1956) and Executive Order No. 60 dated December 19, 1963.
Section 43 requires that when the National Anthem is played (by a band or singing or both) or reproduced by any means at a public gathering, the attending public must sing the anthem with fervor.
Section 43 requires all persons to stand at attention and face the National Flag if one is displayed; otherwise, they must face the band or conductor; at the first note, all execute the salute by placing the right palms over the chest; military/scouting/C.M.T./security guard uniforms must execute their prescribed salutes; salutes end upon the last note.
Section 43 requires the National Anthem be sung first if played/sung with another country’s anthem.
Section 43 prohibits playing or singing the National Anthem for mere recreation/amusement/entertainment, except on:
- International competitions where the Philippines is the host or has a representative.
- National or local competitions.
- “Signing of” and “signing on” radio broadcasting and television stations.
- Before initial and last screening of films or before opening theater performances.
- Civic activities, cultural shows or presentations.
- Other occasions allowed by the Institute.
Section 44 directs strict compliance by all officials and employees of national and local governments, agencies/instrumentalities including GOCCs, institutions of learning, and privately-owned entities/offices displaying the National Flag.

National motto, coat-of-arms, and Great Seal

Section 45 sets the National Motto as “MAKA-DIYOS, MAKA-TAO, MAKAKALIKASAN AT MAKABANSA.”
Section 46 prescribes the National Coat-of-Arms composition, including:
- Paleways of two (2) pieces, azure and gules
- A chief argent studded with three (3) mullets equidistant from each other
- An ovoid argent bearing the sun rayonnant with eight minor and lesser rays
- A scroll inscribed with “REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS.”
Section 47 provides that the Great Seal is circular, bears the arms described in Section 46 but without the scroll and inscription “Republika ng Pilipinas,” and includes surrounding words “Republika ng Pilipinas,” and bears the National Motto.
Section 48 requires affixing the Great Seal on all commissions signed by the President and on other official documents and papers as provided by law or by custom and usage; it vests custody of the Great Seal in the President.

Official seals and heraldic devices rules

Section 49 allows any government branch (national or local), GOCCs, state colleges and universities, including the military, to adopt coat-of-arms, seals, logos, insignia, badges, patches, banners, and awards/trophies/citations/orders/decorations as authorized by the Office of the President or Congress.
Section 50 requires heraldic devices/items to be filed with the Institute for recording and evaluation of precedence, design, customs, and traditions.
Section 50 requires approval applications supported by:
- Orders or forms granting authority or laws creating the authority;
- Brief historical background, symbolism, and significance of every design component;
- Photographs of structures/objects/spots to be incorporated in the design.
Section 50 provides that the Institute recommends the design and documents to the Office of the President or Congress for final approval, and then returns the approved design to the Institute for recording in the National Registry and transmittal to the requesting entity.
Section 51 mandates heraldic design conformity, including:
- Indigenous Filipino culture, values, history, traditions, and nationalism.
- Recognizable components at required sizes.
- No personal heraldic devices except the Seal of the President and the Vice-President.
- No symbols/names/initials/logos/pictures/silhouettes/images of living persons.
- Prominent placement of the government entity’s name or the title of heraldic items/devices.
- Uniqueness among heraldic items and devices (including ribbons/sashes).
- National Coat-of-Arms must occupy the place of honor and may be used only by major branches of government.
- Specific tincture practice for numismatic purposes and painted/printed monochrome wet/dry seals.
- Prohibiting use of the National Flag except where it has become part of history.
- Allowing motto/title/phrase in national language or any local dialect.
- Prohibiting revision or change more than once every ten (10) years.
Section 52 orders all government entities, including the military, to purchase heraldic items and devices only from manufacturers accredited and authorized by the Institute.
Section 53 requires engravers/manufacturers to apply for annual accreditation with business license, permit, company profile with list of heraldic items/devices made for the year, and other pertinent documents; items are subject to inspection using designs/specifications approved by the Office of the President or Congress through the Institute; violations of Republic Act No. 8491 or these rules are grounds for suspension, revocation, or non-renewal of accreditation.
Section 54 prohibits government officials/employees from accepting orders or decorations from any foreign government without the consent of Congress and without prior evaluation/documentation by the Institute.
Section 55 prohibits heraldic and vexillary designs/items—including the National Motto, National Anthem, and Pledge of Allegiance—from being used for numismatic, philatelic, advertisement, and/or informative purposes unless duly approved in writing by the Institute through its Heraldry and Display Section.

Penalties and hearing requirement

Section 56 provides that failure or refusal to observe Republic Act No. 8491 and/or violation of these rules shall be penalized after proper notice and hearing as stipulated in Republic Act No. 8491.

Amendment authority

Section 58 authorizes the Chairman and Executive Director to amend, revise, repeal, or modify these rules or any provision as necessary to achieve the objectives of Republic Act No. 8491 and these rules.