To: Bureau Directors
Directors of Services/Centers and Heads of Units Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Heads, Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Schools

1. Reverence and respect shall at all times be accorded the Philippine National Flag, the foremost symbol of the nation’s identity, independence and integrity. The national flag shall occupy the highest place of honor and prominence during occasions in the schools, community, and most especially during national programs undertaken to commemorate and observe a very important celebration.
2. Republic Act 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines provides the basic rules and guidelines on the proper way of displaying and hoisting the Philippine Flag:
   1. the Flag, if flown from a flagpole, shall have its blue field on top in time of peace and red field on top in time of war;
   2. if in a hanging position, the blue field shall be to the right (left of the observer) in time of peace, and the red field to the right (left of the observer) in time of war;
   3. if on a stage or platform or government office, the flag shall be at the left (facing the stage) or the left of the office upon entering;
   4. when the Philippine flag is flown or displayed with another flag:
      • the flags, if both are national flags, must be flown on separate staffs of the same height and shall be of equal size; the Philippine flag shall be hoisted first and lowered last;
      • if the other flag is not a national flag, it may be flown in the same halyard as the Philippine flag but below the latter and it cannot be of greater size than the Philippine flag;
      • the Philippine flag shall be on the right of the other flag;
      • if there is a line of other flags, the Philippine flag shall be in the middle of the line; and
      • when carried in a parade with flags which are not national flags, the Philippine flag shall be in front of t he center of the line.
   5. if the flag is displayed indoors on a flagpole, it shall be placed at the left of the observer as one enters the room;
   6. the flag may be displayed:
      • from the top of a flagpole, which shall be at a prominent place or commanding position in relation to the surrounding buildings;
      • from a staff projecting upward from the window sill, canopy, balcony or facade of a building;
      • in a suspended position from a rope extending from a building to pole erected away from the building; and
      • flat against the wall vertically with the sun and stars on top.
   7. the Philippine flag may be displayed hanging in a vertical position across the street:
      • the blue field pointing east, if the road is heading south or north; and
      • the blue field pointing north, if the road is heading east or west.
   8. the flag shall not be raised when the weather is inclement, but if already raised, the flag shall not be lowered;
   9. the flag shall never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, flood, water or other objects;
   10. the flag shall be hoisted to the top briskly and shall be lowered ceremoniously;
   11. after being lowered, the flag shall be handled and folded solemnly as part of the ceremony;
   12. the flag shall be raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset;
   13. a flag worn out through wear and tear, shall not be thrown away. It shall be solemnly burned to avoid misuse or desecration. The flag shall be replaced immediately when it begins to show signs of wear or tear:
   14. it shall be prohibited:
       • to mutilate, deface, trample on or cast contempt or commit any act or omission casting dishonor or ridicule upon the flag over its surface;
       • to dip the flag to any person or object by way of compliment or salute:
       • to use the flag:
         1. as a drapery, festoon, tablecloth;
         2. as covering for ceilings, walls, statutes or other objects;
         3. as pennant in the hood, side, back and top of motor vehicles;
         4. as a staff or whip;
         5. for unveiling monuments or statutes; and
         6. as trademarks, or for industrial, commercial or agricultural labels or designs.
       • To display the flag:
         1. under any painting or picture;
         2. horizontally face-up. It shall always be hoisted aloft and be allowed to fall freely;
         3. below any platform; or
         4. in discotheques, cockpits, night and day clubs, casinos, gambling joints and places of vice or where frivolity prevails.
       • to wear the flag in whole or in part as a costume or uniform;
       • to add any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawings, advertisement, or imprint of any nature on the flag;
       • to print, paint or attach representation of the flag on handkerchiefs, napkins, cushions and other articles of merchandise;
       • to display in public any foreign flag, except in embassies and other diplomatic establishments, and in offices of international organizations;
       • to use, display or be part of any advertisement or infomercial; and
       • to display the flag in front of buildings or offices occupied by aliens.
   15. the national flag shall be flown at half-mast during the death of Regional Directors, Superintendents, Supervisors, Principals, Teachers, and other school officials on the day of interment if authorized by Sanggunian Resolution or by order of the local chief executives.
3. Republic Act No. 8491, Chapter VII, “Penalties” states that:
   Section 48. Failure or refusal to observe the provisions of this Act; and any violation of the corresponding rules and regulations issued by the Office of the President shall, after proper notice and hearing, be penalized by public censure which shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation.
   The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (now Department of Education) and the Commission on Higher Education, upon the recommendation of the Institute and after the proper notice and hearing, shall cause the cancellation of the recognition of permit of any private educational institution which fails or refuses to observe the provisions of this Act for the second time.
   Section 49. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (now Department of Education) and the Commission on Higher Education shall ensure that the National Anthem, as adopted by law, shall be committed to memory by all students of both public and private educational institutions, and performed during the flag ceremony conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations issued by the Office of the President. In addition, they shall make available the vocal, piano or band scores of the National Anthem, as adopted by law, to all private and public schools, as well as the general public.
   Section 50. Any person or judicial entity which violates any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not less than Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00) nor more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (PhP20,000.00), or by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court: Provided, that for any second and additional offenses, both fine and imprisonment shall always be imposed: Provided, that in case the violation is committed by a juridical person, its President or Chief Executive Officer thereof shall be liable.
4. Enclosed in this Order are the copy of the “Know the Rules and egalations on the Use of the National Flag” and Republic Act No. 8491.
5. For more information, please contact the hotlines on flag advocacy: National Historical Institute (NHI) c/o Mr. Teddy Atienza at tel. nos. (02) 523-037, 523-9050 and 523-9043; Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) o Dir. Josefina Saliva at tel. no. (02) 882-4150; Boy Scouts of the Philippines SP) at tel. nos. (02) 527-5112 or 527-8317 to 20 local 225; Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) at tel. no. (02) 526-5193; Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKOR) tel. nos. (02) 528-1974 and 521-0141 and mobile no. (0927) 448-1115 c/o Ms. Ruby Gonzales; DepED-Special Events Unit at tel. nos. (02) 637-5832 and 517-5834; Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at tel. nos. (02) 17-9727 and 527-2647; Department of Tourism (DOT) at tel. no. (02) 525- ill; and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at tel. nos. (02) 920-4652 and 920-4346 c/o Director Betty Lou Penera.
   Immediate and wide dissemination of and compliance with this Order is directed.

Incl.: As stated
Reference: DECS Memorandum: No. 146, s. 1998
Allotment: 1–(D.O. 50-97)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
BUREAUS & OFFICES
FLAGS
OFFICIALS
RULES & REGULATIONS

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