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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure seeks to mandate swimming as a subject in the K-12 
Basic Education Curriculum and as an integral part of the overall strategy to 
reduce the incidence of death by drowning during natural calamities or 
recreational aquatic activities. The salient features of this bill include:  
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The coordination of the Department of Education and the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in the
inclusion of Swimming as a subject in the K-12 Basic Education
Curriculum;
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The Drowning Prevention Plan shall be developed by the NDRRMC to serve
as a guide for all private and public elementary and secondary schools,
government agencies, including local government units, in formulating
their programs and projects to reduce the risk of drowning incidents in the
country.
action plan in accordance with the Drowning Prevention Plan.
Hence, the passage of this measure is sought.   
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
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The swimming lessons shall include water safety and safe rescue skills;
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Each local government unit (LGU) shall formulate and design a community
March 6, 2023
5:22 pm
7476


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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
MANDATING SWIMMING AS A SUBJECT IN THE K-12 BASIC EDUCATION 
CURRICULUM AND AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE OVERALL STRATEGY TO 
REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF DEATH FROM DROWNING DURING NATURAL 
CALAMITIES OR RECREATIONAL AQUATIC ACTIVITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act may be cited as the “Drowning Prevention 
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Act.” 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the right to life and health 
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of every Filipino and hence it shall protect the life as well as instill health 
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consciousness among them through an overall strategy to reduce incidence of 
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drowning during natural calamities like coastal floods, river floods and flash 
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floods and recreational aquatic activities. 
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SEC. 3. Swimming as Mandatory Subject. – The Department of Education shall, 
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in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
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Council (NDRRMC), include swimming lessons in the K-12 basic education 
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curriculum of all private and public elementary and secondary schools in the 
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core academic area of Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH) as 
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mandatory subject.  The Department of Education shall determine the length 
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and in which grade the swimming lessons must be undertaken by the children 
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as part of their academic requirement.   
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SEC. 4. Water Safety and Safe Rescue Skills. – A trained instructor or certified 
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lifeguard shall conduct the swimming lessons which include water safety and 
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safe rescue skills.  The swimming lesson shall be conducted in a safe and 
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controlled environment.  
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SEC. 5. Drowning Prevention Plan. – Pursuant to the mandate of Republic Act 
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No. 10121, also known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and 
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Management Act of 2010,” to integrate disaster risk reduction education into the 
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school curricula, the NDRRMC shall develop a drowning prevention plan 
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framework which shall serve as a guide for all private and public elementary and 
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secondary schools, government agencies, including local government units, in 
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formulating their programs and projects to reduce the risk of drowning incidents 
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in the country.  
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The drowning prevention plan shall contain, among others, the drowning risk 
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factors and the corresponding preventive measures. The information and data 
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contained in the plan must be updated regularly.  The drowning prevention plan 
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shall be issued within one hundred eighty (180) days from the approval of this 
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Act.  The amount necessary to cover the formulation and publication of the plan 
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shall be charged against the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
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Fund. 
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SEC. 6. Additional Mandate of NDRRMC. – In addition to its existing mandate, 
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the NDRRMC shall exercise the following: 
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a. Formulate and regularly update a comprehensive drowning prevention 
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plan; 
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b. Promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective 
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implementation of this Act without prejudice to any existing regulations 
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on water safety; 
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c. Monitor and oversee the strict implementation of this Act; 
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d. Coordinate the programs and projects of all government agencies to 
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effectively prevent drowning; 
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e. Conduct information dissemination to prevent drowning; 
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f. Assist the LGUs in crafting the community action plan through its Local 
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Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office; 
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g. Inspect the premises of any establishment, including condominiums and 
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subdivision, offering water recreational activities through its duly 
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authorized representatives;  
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h. Research relevant information on drowning to understand the full extent 
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and circumstances of drowning, the risks involved and best practices in 
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the world to prevent drowning and all other information necessary for the 
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updating of the drowning prevention plan; and 
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i. Exercise the powers and perform the functions necessary to attain the 
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objectives of this Act. 
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SEC. 7. Community Action Plan. – Each local government unit (LGU) shall 
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formulate and design a community action plan in accordance with the drowning 
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prevention plan. The action plan shall identify the circumstances surrounding 
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the drowning in the locality, if any, or the areas in the locality where there is a 
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risk of drowning.  The action plan shall include training on first aid and basic 
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life support and seminar on drowning prevention. 
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The chief executive of each LGU shall ensure that the action plan shall be 
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formulated and implemented in the respective locality. 
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SEC. 8. Reportorial Requirements. – The NDRRMC shall submit to the President 
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of the Philippines and to Congress an annual report of the policies, programs, 
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activities and projects relative to the implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the 
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approval of this Act, the NDRRMC shall promulgate the rules and regulations 
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implementing the provisions of this Act.  The implementing rules and regulations 
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issued pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days after its 
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publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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SEC. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
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Approved, 
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