Values-Centered Legislative Act
Edison C. Dizon, MAEd
In the past weeks, my attention was greatly caught by two posts in the social networking site Facebook. First, a colleague in the Schools Division of San Fernando, Dr. Richard D. Sanchez, posted in his wall a long post-article with the title “Values Education as an Indispensable Ingredient in Doing Research”. In the said post, he mentioned how values can actually guide and enlighten researchers in accomplishing their tasks. The other one is a post from the official Facebook account of DepEd Philippines which “welcomes the recent passage of Republic Act 11476, or the Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education Act”.
I agree with Dr. Sanchez that values can really serve as a guide for researchers. In fact, in all subjects and in all fields or industries, values shall be indispensable. I am also glad that the Philippine Congress and President Rodrigo R. Duterte have finally given the Filipinos this values-centered legislative act. It is timely and relevant. With the kind of young people that we have nowadays and the ‘values’ that they have in these times of various technological advances, GMRC and values education shall be their guide and enlightenment on how they will properly behave and socialize with others.
I also hope that the newly enacted law will be properly implemented in the basic education. While I understand that its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) is not yet released by DepEd as the lead agency to execute the law, I just hope that during its implementation, its true spirit will be fulfilled. One of these is the qualifications of teachers who will be handling GMRC and values education subject. I just hope that in idea and in reality, only those professionals specially trained and prepared in handling the said subjects are given the opportunity to teach. While I have nothing against other teachers who are also educated and are experts in their own fields or specializations, forming and transforming our youth requires people who got the proper training and preparations.
With the passage of RA 11476, I wish to extend my gratitude and congratulations to the authors and co-authors of this law. I also thank President Duterte for his immediate blessing by way of signing the bill-turned into law. To DepEd that will implement this law, I wish to say “Good luck!” We, teachers, will support whatever is best for our young Filipino learners.
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The author is Teacher III at Pulung Bulu Integrated School, City of San
Fernando, Pampanga