1987 Philippine Constitution

Article 2 Section 7-28

Give the main idea of the following sections from Article 2 of the 1987 Philippine
Constitution.
Section 7:

The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states, the
paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national
interest, and the right to self-determination.

The state shall establish friendly relations with all countries of the world regardless of race,
religion, ideology and social system and to promote as much beneficial relations with them
particularly in economic and trade activities.

Section 8:

The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of
freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.

The aim of this section is to forbid the making, storing, manufacture or testing in our country of
nuclear weapons, devices or parts thereof as well as the use of our territory as dumping site for
radioactive wastes and transit within our territory of ships or planes with nuclear weapons.

Section 9:

The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide
adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an
improved quality of life for all.

In this provision, the state solves at the same time a chain of social problems that comes with it:
social unrest, breakdown of family systems, diseases, ignorance, criminality, and low
productivity.

Section 10:

The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.

This policy mandates the state to promote social justice in all phases of national development.

Section 11:

The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human
rights.

The recognition that the human person is the end and purpose of every social organization was
implied in this provision.

Section 12:
The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family
as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and
the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents
in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall
receive the support of the Government.

The government may not enact any law or initiate measures that would break up or weaken the
family as a social unit, or in the guise of protecting the family, interfere in purely internal family
matters which do not involve the social order or any public policy.

Section 13:

The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and
protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate
in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and
civic affairs.

In this provision, the constitutional duty of the state is to promote and protect the well-being of the youth
to enable them to develop physically, morally, spiritually, intellectually, and socially, in a wholesome and
normal manner.

Section 14.

The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental
equality before the law of women and men.

The duty of the state in this provision is to ensure that equality before the law in all aspects of national
life by rectifying or ending all practices and systems that are disadvantageous to women or discriminate
against them by reason merely of sex where it is not a relevant factor in making a distinction.

Section 15.

The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them.

The state shall oblige it’s self to promote and protect the right of the people to health by instilling health
consciousness among the people.

Section 16.

The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

The state shall promote and protect the rights of the people about a balanced and healthful environment.

Section 17.

The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and
development.
The state shall provide education to all citizens to have a general and broader understanding about
knowledge.

Section 18.

The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers
and promote their welfare.

In this provision, the state protects the rights of each and every worker.

Section 19.

The State shall develop a self-reliant and independent national economy effectively controlled by
Filipinos.

It states that the constitutional guidelines in the development of the economy: economic self-reliance,
independent national economy, and effective Filipino control of the economy.

Section 20.

The State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and
provides incentives to needed investments.

The state is mandated to encourage private enterprise and to provide incentives to needed investments,
whether local or foreign.

Section 21.

The State shall promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform.

The state must develop rural and agrarian reform for the benefits of the country.

Section 22.
The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the
framework of national unity and development.

The provision also directs the State to promote their rights within the framework of national unity and
development.

Section 23.

The State shall encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that

promote the welfare of the nation.

The state is required to encourage these organizations because recent events have shown that, under
responsible leadership, they can be active contributors to the political, social, and economic growth of
the country.
Section 24.

The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.

The state must keep abreast of communication innovations but at the same time be selective and
discriminating to insure that only those “suitable to the needs and aspirations of the nation” are
adapted.