Philippine Constitutions PDF

1899 CONSTITUTION Preamble We, the Representatives of the Filipino People, legally convened to establish justice, p...

1899 CONSTITUTION Preamble We, the Representatives of the Filipino People, legally convened to establish justice, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and ensure the blessings of liberty, imploring the aid of the Sovereign Lawgiver of the Universe in order to obtain these objectives, have voted, decreed and approved the following Colonial Struggle: The Philippines was under Spanish rule for over 300 years. Philippine Revolution: In 1896, Filipinos began fighting for independence from Spain. Spanish-American War (1898): The U.S. defeated Spain, and the Philippines was ceded to the U.S. under the Treaty of Paris. The Malolos Congress Date of Formation: September 15, 1898. Location: Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan. Purpose: Drafted the constitution to establish an independent Philippine Republic. Main Provision Unicameral Assembly: Created a representative government with a National Assembly. Separation of Powers: Established executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Civil Liberties: Included rights like freedom of speech, press, and religion. Social Justice: Aimed to provide rights for education and protection of property. Inauguration of the First Philippine Republic Date: January 23, 1899. President: Emilio Aguinaldo. Significance: Recognized as Asia's first democratic republic. Impact and Legacy Symbol of Independence: Although short-lived, it represented Filipino aspirations for sovereignty. Conflict with the U.S.: Triggered the Philippine-American War as the U.S. asserted control over the Philippines. Inspiration for Future Movements: Laid the groundwork for future independence efforts.  1935 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION Preamble The Filipino people, imploring the aid of Divine Providence, in order to establish a government that shall em- body their ideals, conserve and develop the patrimony of the nation, promote the general welfare, and secure to themselves and their posterity the blessings of independence under a régime of justice, liberty, and democracy, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution. Background on the Philippine-American War and U.S. Colonization 1898: Treaty of Paris – Spain cedes the Philippines to the United States. 1899-1902: Philippine-American War – Resistance to American colonization. Result: Philippines under U.S. colonial rule, leading to calls for self-government. The Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934) What it Established: Authorized the drafting of a Philippine Constitution. Significance: Set a 10-year transitional Commonwealth period before full independence. Effect: Allowed Filipinos to draft their own constitution. The Constitutional Convention of 1934-1935 Delegates: Representatives from across the Philippines convened. Process: Drafting of the 1935 Constitution, heavily influenced by American ideals. Key Figures: Claro M. Recto (presided over the convention), Manuel Quezon. Main Provisions of the 1935 Constitution Government Structure: Modeled after the U.S., with executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Executive Power: Vested in the President, elected every 6 years. Legislature: Bicameral system with a Senate and House of Representatives. Bill of Rights: Protected civil liberties and rights. Ratification and Implementation Ratification Date: May 14, 1935 Plebiscite Results: Approved by the majority of Filipino voters. Significance: Established the Commonwealth of the Philippines with Manuel Quezon as the first President. Challenges and Amendments Japanese Occupation: 1942-1945 – Interrupted the operation of the 1935 Constitution. 1940 Amendments: Modified terms of the president and vice president and allowed re-election. Post-War Revival: Restored after World War II, leading to full independence in 1946. Impact of the 1935 Constitution Self-Government: Marked the first self-governing Filipino republic under U.S. oversight. Economic and Social Reforms: Provided the framework for Philippine policy and governance. Independence Roadmap: Guided the country toward full independence in 1946.  1973 CONSTITUTION PREAMBLE We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Divine Providence, in order to establish a Government that shall embody our ideals, promote the general welfare, conserve and develop the patrimony of our Nation, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of democracy under a regime of justice, peace, liberty, and equality, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution. Introduction to Federalism in the Philippines President Marcos Jr.'s Proposal: During a recent Partido Federal ng Pilipinas gathering, President Marcos Jr. advocated for a federal system to stabilize the nation's political structure. Goal of Federalism: Decentralize power from Manila to other regions, enhancing stability through multiple power centers. Historical Context: The 1973 Constitution Background: The 1973 Constitution introduced a modified parliamentary government under President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Ratification: The 1973 Constitution came into effect after being ratified by barangay assemblies in 1973. System Shift: Transitioned from presidential to a modified parliamentary system, with a prime minister assisting the president. Modified Parliamentary System (1973-1986) Key Features: ▪ Close collaboration between executive and legislative branches. ▪ Batasang Pambansa as the legislative body.  1987 CONSTITUTION PREAMBLE We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution. End of the 1973 Constitution and the Shift to the 1987 Constitution End of the 1973 Charter: The People Power Revolution led to the 1987 Constitution under President Corazon Aquino. Restoration of Bicameral Congress: The 1987 Constitution reinstated the Senate and House of Representatives. New Governance Structure: Transitioned back to a presidential system with separate executive and legislative branches.  COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM LAW OF 1988 (REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6657) The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, aims to promote social justice and industrialization by redistributing agricultural land to landless farmers and farmworkers. Its goal is to improve equity in land ownership and productivity in rural areas. Land Redistribution: It covers all public and private agricultural lands, distributing these to qualified beneficiaries, primarily landless farmers and tenants. Landowners are compensated based on land valuation. Beneficiaries: Farmers, agricultural workers, and regular farm laborers who till the land or directly manage it are the primary recipients. Support Services: The law provides support such as infrastructure, credit assistance, and training programs to help beneficiaries effectively manage and develop the lands they receive. Retention Limits: Landowners are allowed to retain up to 5 hectares, with additional limits of 3 hectares per child, provided the child is directly managing the land. The law is implemented through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), supervised by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). It remains one of the most significant legal frameworks addressing land reform in the country, though its implementation has faced challenges like resistance from landowners, administrative delays, and limited resources. The Hacienda Luisita Massacre The Hacienda Luisita Massacre was a violent clash between police and striking workers at a sugar plantation owned by the Cojuangco family in Tarlac, Philippines, on November 16, 2004. The incident resulted in the deaths of 12 workers, including two children, and injured hundreds more.  TAXATION I) CONCEPTS OF TAXATION It states that taxation is an enforced proportional contribution imposed by the state to support the government. The three main purposes of taxation are to raise revenue, regulate activities, and promote general welfare. II) HISTORY OF TAXATION IN THE PHILIPPINES Philippine taxation dates back to pre-colonial times, where early Filipinos paid tributes like crops, gold, or labor to local rulers (datus). During Spanish colonization (1521–1898), the "tributo" system was formalized, requiring all Filipinos to pay taxes in cash or kind, later replaced by the "cedula personal" (community tax certificate). III) LEGAL BASIS OF TAXATION IN THE PHILIPPINES Constitution: Article VI, Section 28 of the Constitution states that "the rule of taxation shall be uniform and equitable" and that "Congress shall evolve a progressive system of taxation" Philippine taxation is administered both at national and local levels. On the national level, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is the primary taxing authority and is responsible for the administration of the imposition, assessment, and collection of national internal revenue taxes including income taxes, VAT, excise taxes, and other taxes imposed under the NIRC. On a local level, the LGUs such as provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays (the smallest political unit in the country) are imbued with authority to impose and collect local taxes. These include real property taxes, professional taxes, and business taxes. The imposition of such taxes are under the discretion of the LGU, subject to limits under national laws. Each LGU also has its own local revenue office to administer and collect such taxes. IV) TRAIN LAW What is the TRAIN Law? The TRAIN Law, officially known as Republic Act No. 10963, is part of the Philippine government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP). Its primary goal is to simplify the tax system, make it fairer, and improve revenue generation for essential government projects and services. Updated Income Tax Rates for 2024 The 2024 adjustments to income tax rates reflect the government’s continued commitment to a progressive tax system. Here’s a breakdown of the new rates: For Individuals Earning Below PHP 250,000 Annually Exemption: Individuals with an annual income of PHP 250,000 or less remain exempt from income tax. This provision is designed to support low-income earners by increasing their disposable income. For Individuals Earning Above PHP 8 Million Annually Highest Bracket: The tax rate for individuals earning above PHP 8 million remains at 35%, reflecting the government’s approach to taxing the highest earners at a higher rate. V) KINDS OF TAXES IN THE PHILIPPINES In the Philippines, there are several types of taxes that individuals and businesses need to be aware of. These taxes are collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and are used to fund government services and projects. Below are the different types of taxes in the Philippines payable to the BIR: Income Tax – This is a tax on the income earned by individuals, corporations, partnerships, and other entities. The amount of tax to be paid is based on the taxpayer’s net income. This can be Corporate Income Tax or Income Tax as an individual. Value Added Tax (VAT) – This is a tax on the sale of goods and services in the Philippines. The current VAT rate is 12%. Excise Tax – This is a tax on specific goods such as alcohol, tobacco, and petroleum products. The amount of tax to be paid depends on the type and quantity of the product. Capital Gains Tax – This is a tax that is imposed on the gain presumed to have been realized by the seller for any sale, exchange and/or disposition of capital asset (including other forms of conditional sales/pacto de retro sales) in the Philippines. Documentary Stamp Tax – This is a tax on documents such as contracts, deeds, and other legal documents. The tax rate varies depending on the nature of the document. Percentage Tax – This is a tax on a person or juridical entities engaged in business/trade that sells lease goods, properties or services whose gross annual sales or receipts do not exceed 3 million and are not VAT registered in the Philippines. Withholding Tax – This is a corporate tax imposed on taxpayers engaged in any trade or business in the Philippines. This tax is withheld from the salary of every employee by the employer which will serve as an advanced payment for Income Taxes during a business year. Donor’s Tax – This is a tax on gifts and donations. The donor is responsible for paying this tax.  OTHER ISSUES IN THE PHILIPPINES Typhoons and natural disasters Climate change Deforestation and land degradation Water pollution Geographic isolation Mountainous terrain Volcanic activity Sea level rise Inadequate infrastructure Destructive fishing Plastic waste Poverty Traffic jams Inflation Lack of resources and infrastructure in Schools (Education) COVID-19 (Education) Budget (Education) Corruption Unemployment