TL;DR: DepEd has two official marks and they are not interchangeable. The seal is the round corporate mark governed by DepEd Order No. 63, s. 2011, protected under the Flag and Heraldic Code, and reserved for formal and legal documents. The logo is the DepED wordmark with the torch, governed by DepEd Order No. 69, s. 2003, used on publications, advocacy materials, vehicles and school roofs. Both are set out in the Service Marks and Visual Identity Manual issued through DepEd Order No. 031, s. 2019. School roof and wall markings have their own measured specifications under DepEd Order No. 64, s. 2017.
Almost every misuse of DepEd branding traces back to the same mistake: assuming there is one mark. There are two, with different rulebooks, different permitted uses and different minimum sizes. This is what each one is, and what the department actually prescribes for signage on school grounds.
Two Marks, Two Rulebooks
| The seal | The logo | |
|---|---|---|
| Governing issuance | DepEd Order No. 63, s. 2011 | DepEd Order No. 69, s. 2003 |
| What it looks like | Round mark: sea lions, torch, map, open book, rope, shield | DepED wordmark with a torch over the letter p |
| Legal protection | Rule 8, Chapter 6, Sections 49 to 51 of RA 8491, the Flag and Heraldic Code | Colours conform to RA 8491 |
| Typical use | Diplomas, legal documents, permits, SF10, letterheads, plaques | Publications, advocacy materials, vehicles, roof marks, name tags |
| Minimum size | 0.5 inch | 0.75 inch |
Both are documented in one place: the Service Marks and Visual Identity Manual, published by DepEd's Public Affairs Service and issued to all offices through DepEd Order No. 031, s. 2019. The same manual settles a detail that trips people up in official writing: the legal name of the agency is Department of Education and DepEd is its communicative name, so the full name appears on first mention in a communication and the short form afterwards.
The Seal
The manual describes the seal as the department's service mark, to be treated "with respect, similar to the respect accorded to the Philippine flag." It was approved by the Office of the President and is protected under the Flag and Heraldic Code.
Elements. The outer ring carries KAGAWARAN NG EDUKASYON and REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS. The core contains six symbols: two sea lions, a lighted torch with rays, the map of the Philippines, an open book, a rope and a shield.
Symbolism, as DepEd states it. The shield resembles an open hand and represents DepEd as a caring and nurturing institution. The two sea lions holding an open book over a plate symbolise leadership and excellence. The open book and lighted torch radiating light over the archipelago represent the quest for knowledge and the values and skills DepEd inculcates. DO 63, s. 2011 also directs schools to explain that meaning to learners rather than simply display it.
Colours. Taken from the Philippine flag. Blue signifies peace, red the burning desire to learn, and golden yellow the quest for knowledge, with the white background standing for pure intention to learn.
Where it goes. The manual's list is long and specific: diplomatic and international communications, legal documents, academic awards, diplomas, certificates and plaques, Form 137 or SF10-ES and SF10-JHS, Accreditation and Equivalency and PEPT results, government permits to operate and recognition, Certification, Authentication and Verification forms, letterheads, memos and notepads, envelopes, business cards, identification cards, press conference backdrops, and other official communications. It is also appropriate for permanent markers in stone, metal or glass. Our school forms guide covers what SF10 is and why it carries the seal rather than the logo.
Where it does not go. The manual is blunt: the seal cannot be redrawn or recreated, and usage is "strictly limited" to maintain its dignity and ceremonial quality.
The Logo
The logo's only symbol is the torch with a burning flame superimposed on the middle letter "p" of DepED, with the "ED" capitalised to emphasise basic education. The prescribed fonts are Revue for the DepED element and Adobe Garamond Semibold for the spelled-out name.
The manual lists its uses: print and non-print publications, promotion and advocacy materials, leaflets, flyers, brochures, posters, streamers, backdrops and backgrounds, DepEd vehicle signage, employee vehicle stickers, name tags, covers of instructional and educational materials, and website signatures. And then the one most visible from the air: it is used as a roof mark in all public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.
The Don'ts, Which Apply to Both
The manual sets out prohibited treatments and states explicitly that the restrictions on one mark apply to the other:
- distortion or stretching
- artistic effects and drop shadows
- cropping or cutting
- rotating to a different angle
- adding elements such as an underline
- placing on a distracting background
- combining with other elements or creating new lockups
- colours outside the approved variations
- scaling below the minimum size
- using the wordmark in isolation
- using either mark as a repeating background pattern
There is also a spacing rule. The seal needs clear space around it equivalent to the size of one sea lion; the logo needs clear space equivalent to the size of the torch without the flame.
School Signage: What Is Actually Measured
Signage on school grounds is governed by DepEd Order No. 64, s. 2017, the Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications for DepEd school buildings. Two of its sections deal with markings.
Roof markings. Painted on the main building or the tallest building of the school, in a vertical position, carrying only the DepEd logo and the School ID Number, with nothing else added.
| Element | Specification |
|---|---|
| DepEd logo | 3.80 m high by 7.60 m long, existing logo design |
| School ID Number | 2.00 m high, 0.30 m thick, Arial bold |
| School ID Number colour | Blue with a white outline |
| Gap between logo and number | At least 2.00 m |
Wall markings. All walls must be free from markings except three categories, painted in separate prominent places: the DepEd name, seal, logo, vision, mission and core values; portraits and sayings of national heroes; and the name, ID and location of the school. One interior wall section may be dedicated to recognising sponsors, donors and other partners, provided the recognition follows a standard metal plaque format mounted on the wall. Our guide to DepEd's vision, mission and core values covers the wording that belongs in the first category.
The same order also prescribes a standard paint colour scheme for school buildings, with two documented exceptions: where a different dominant colour scheme already exists, and where designs or accents depicting local culture are practised. In both cases no additional cost may be charged, and no new scheme outside those may be introduced.
Where Practice Varies
Three honest caveats before you act on any of this.
Division memoranda fill the gaps. National orders set specifications; divisions issue their own memoranda for practical matters such as directional signage within school grounds. If your question is about where a sign goes rather than what a mark looks like, the answer is likely to be a division-level one. Our schools division office explainer covers which unit to ask.
Donated assets have their own rule. The manual allows a donated vehicle to carry either the DepEd logo or the donor's own logo or seal in recognition, but states that the name and personal photo of the donor should never be displayed, attributing that restriction to the Anti-Epal Law and Memorandum Circular No. 25, s. 2017 of the Office of the President. That is the manual's own characterisation, and it is the kind of provision worth confirming with your division before printing anything.
Older schools were built to older standards. DO 64, s. 2017 applies to the design of school buildings; an existing building painted under a previous scheme is not automatically non-compliant. As an illustrative example, a school whose main building already carries a long-established local colour scheme falls within the exception the order itself provides, rather than being an infraction to be corrected.
If you need to check which version of any of these issuances is currently in force, our guide on reading DepEd orders explains how to trace a repealing clause forward.
Disclaimer: this is an explainer, not a design permission. Reproducing the DepEd seal or logo on anything official requires the correct source artwork and, in most cases, clearance from the appropriate DepEd office. We are not a government portal and cannot authorise use of either mark.
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Sources
- DepEd Order No. 63, s. 2011 - Department of Education (DepEd) Seal (official issuance page)
- DepEd Order No. 69, s. 2003 - DepEd Logo (official issuance page)
- DepEd Order No. 031, s. 2019 - The Department of Education Service Marks and Visual Identity Manual (official issuance page)
- Service Marks and Visual Identity Manual of the Department of Education - full PDF enclosure, source of the usage lists, spacing rules and don'ts quoted above
- DepEd Order No. 64, s. 2017 - Establishing the Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications for DepEd School Buildings (official issuance page)
- DepEd Order No. 64, s. 2017 - full PDF, source of the roof marking and wall marking specifications
- SchoolFinderPH - DepEd school forms guide
- SchoolFinderPH - DepEd vision, mission and core values
