Country: Philippines                          
Title:    Optional Religious Instruction under Paragraph 3, Section
          3, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution
Author:            Isidro D. . Carino, Secretary.  
Institution:       DECS
Citations:         DECS Order No. 69 s. 1990.  
Descriptors:       Religious education.  
Full text: 1.       The 1987  Constitution provides for religious
  instruction of students/pupils in public elementary and high
  schools within the regular class hours, at the option expressed in
  writing by the parents or guardian, without additional cost to the
  Government. (Section 3, Article XIV.)

  2.       In compliance with this Constitutional mandate, schools
  superintendents are enjoined to ask their principals to:

     a.  arrange existing regular class hours to accommodate the
  teaching of religion within the regular class hours; and

     b.  assist in the preparation and distribution of appropriate
  forms which parents or guardians may use to signify their
  conformity or refusal to have their children or wards receive
  religious instruction.

  3.       Religious denominations should submit their request for
  time allocation for optional religious instruction to the principal
  within the regular class hours.

  4.       Religious instruction shall be given for not more than 90
  minutes a week within the regular class hours.

  5.       Religious instructors shall be designated or approved by
  the religious authorities to which the children belong.

  6.       No. student/pupil shall be allowed or permitted to attend
  religious instruction classes without the written request or
  permission of his/her parents or guardian.

  7.       Inclosed are sample forms of the request or permission for
  optional religious instruction to be accomplished by parents or
  guardian.

  8.       Principals are enjoined to adhere to the above-mentioned
  requirements vis-a-vis religious instruction in public schools.

  (Inclosure No. 1 to DECS Order No. 69, s. 1990)

  Request For Religious Instruction

  To WHom It May Concern:

       The 1987 Constitution provides for religious instruction of
  students in public elementary and high schools within regular class
  hours, at the option expressed in writing by the parents or
  guardians.  Pursuant thereto, I,
  (Name)_______________________________, a resident of
  (Address)__________________________would like to request that my
  child/ward (Name)_________________(Grade)_______________of
  (School)___________________________be given optional religious
  instruction in (Please indicate your
  religion)_______________________________.

  Date:________________________

  (Signature of Parent/Guardian)_______________________________

  (Inclosure No. 2 to DECS Order No. 69, s. 1990)

  REQUEST FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

  TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

        The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides for religious
  instruction of students in public elementary and high schools
  within regular class hours, at the option expressed in writing by
  the parents or guardians.  In this connection of I,
  (Name)_____________________________________, a resident of
  (Address)_________________________________would like to request
  that my child/ward
  (Name)______________________________,(Grade/Year)______________
  (School)___________________________ be given optional religious
  instruction in (Please check one only):

  ( ) Roman Catholic  ( ) Aglipayan

  ( ) Islam  ( ) Episcopal

  ( ) Iglesia ni Kristo  ( ) Jehovah's Witness

  ( ) Protestant  ( ) Others (Pls indicate)

  Date:_______________________

  (Signature of Parent/Guardian)____________________