The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Representative Roman Romulo (Lone District, Pasig City) approved the “Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) Act of 2019,” which seeks to institutionalize the inclusion of GMRC as a separate subject in Kinder to Grade 3 levels.
The unnumbered substitute bill consolidates House Bill No. (HB) 1 authored by Speaker Alan Peter “Compañero” Cayetano, HB 609 by Rep. Resureccion Acop (2nd District, Antipolo City), HB 721 by Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th District, Leyte), HB 3970 by Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado (1st District, Bulacan), and HB 4259 by Rep. Lorna Silverio (3rd District, Bulacan).
The measure provides for the inclusion of the GMRC subject, taking into account the Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao Curriculum of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) K-12 program.
GMRC is basic social values and etiquette.
The bill defines GMRC as basic social values and etiquette. It pursues the State policy to develop the character of the youth by making them recognize their intrinsic human value, enabling them to cultivate their ability to make excellent choices for themselves in relation to the greater community, thereby creating a culture of respect and love for oneself, for others, and the country.
In his explanatory note for HB 1, Speaker Cayetano stressed that in light of the changing times and the height of Internet use where the youth is exposed to all sorts of information and disinformation, there is a pressing need to strengthen the common core values and inculcate universally acceptable moral standards.
“In the advent of social media and how it has evolved to be indispensable in our daily lives, it is important that Etiquette and Moral Uprightness is also introduced and taught.”
“In the advent of social media and how it has evolved to be indispensable in our daily lives, it is important that Etiquette and Moral Uprightness is also introduced and taught for all of us to keep up with the modern era and act accordingly to a customary set of behaviour,” the veteran legislator said.
“As the Philippines develops and [our] economy grows, it is essential that we do not forget who we are as a people, our divine purpose, and duties to our nation,” the seasoned lawmaker added.