THIRTEENTH CONGRESS QF THE 
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 I 
First Regular Session 
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53 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
s. No. 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill provides for the inclusion of the study of natural and man-made 
disasters in school curricula at all levels of the Philippine educational systems to 
promote disaster awareness and disaster mitigation in the country. It is our response 
to the United Nations’ program fostered under the INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR 
NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTION (IDNDR), which aims to minimize loss of life, 
property damage and socio-economic losses caused by natural disasters. 
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world and the 
need is imminent to promote awareness for the hazards concomitant with it. The 
Philippine archipelago is particularly prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, 
typhoons, tsunami, floods and droughts because of its geologic and geographical 
conditions, and yet studies done by the NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NATURAL 
DISASTER MITIGATION in October 1994, have shown that we, as a people, have 
bee observed to be more reactionary than anticipatory in our disaster-preparedness 
and hazard awareness. 
Planning for a disaster is low in the priorities of majority of 
the population, especially among the low-income bracket whose main preoccupation 
is daily subsistence and survival. Sadly, data from the Asian Disaster Preparedness 
Center in Thailand shows that in 1994, the world economy lost more money from 
natural disasters than it spent on development aid. 
The Philippines lies between two major tectonic plates of the world, which 
makes it a highly seismic area - an earthquake country. At least five earthquakes per 
day occur in the country. The eastern section of the country comprising of eastern 
Mindanao, Samar and Leyte is the most seismically active part of the Philippines, 
averaging sixteen earthquakes a day, with Northern Luzon, Lubang Island 
and 
Mindoro a close second. The metropolis, the most heavily populated area in the 
country, and therefore most vulnerable and at risk has five seismic source zones 
which is the loci of major earthquakes in the past: Marikina Valley fault System, 
Philippine Fault Zone, Lubang Fault, Casiguran Fault and Manila trench. Metro Manila 
has already experienced 28 major earthquakes and is hit by a perceptible (Intensity 
IV) earthquake every year. 
Typhoons enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on the average of twenty 
(20) a year and their attendant hazards such as strong winds, storm surges and 
floods, are some of the most frequent and damaging problems that the country is 
vulnerable to. Flooding due to typhoons is a chronic problem in Metro Manila with its 
inadequate drainage system. In low-lying areas, such as the provinces of Davao and 
Cotabato, flooding causes damage to crops amounting to millions of pesos. 


This bill aims to integrate in the curricula of all schools in all levels of the 
educational system a study of natural and man-made calamities in order to {7) instill 
disaster awareness; (2) develop simulations to understand the phenomena of natural 
and man-made disasters, especially earthquakes, as stated in the conference report 
of UNlC on “Integration of Public Administration and the science of Disasters” 
(Beijing, China, January 19979; and (4) promote active participation of children, youth, 
students and schools, to promote disaster mitigation information for disaster reduction. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
k 
SERGIO OSMEQA III 
Senator 
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IRTEENTH CO 
0 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S E N A T  
s. No. 
EL 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa Ill 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE TEACHING OF DISASTER AWARENESS AND DISASTER 
MITIGATION AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM OF ALL PRIMARY AND 
SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The teaching of disaster awareness and disaster mitigation is 
hereby required to be a part of the curriculum of all primary and secondary schools in 
the Philippines. 
SEC. 2. The Department of Education (DepEd) shall adopt the necessary 
rules and regulations to implement the regulations of this Act. 
SEC. 
3. 
The funds needed for this purpose shall be taken from the 
appropriations of the DepEd and/or Economic Support Fund allotted to said 
Department. Thereafter, such sum which may be necessary for the implementation of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 
4. 
Repealability Clause. All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations or administrative regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly 
SEC. 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved, 
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