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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

House Bri wo. 5646

Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Philippines as an archipelago is one of the most disaster-prone countries in
the world’. With the earthquakes in Central Visayas, the supertyphoon Yolanda, and
the recent surge of earthquakes in Northern Mindanao, it is evident that we as a nation
should always be fully-prepared given the frequency and intensity of the forces of nature
that hit the country, year in and year out. To complement the efforts of the government
to minimize the socio-economic and environmental impacts of natural disasters, the
State should equip its citizens with the necessary knowledge and skills on how to deal
with typhoons, earthquakes, and the like.

Through constitutional fiat, 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 also encourage their involvement in public
and civic affairs. In line with these circumstances, this measure seeks to implement an
‘emergency and disaster response program in the curriculum for our Senior High School
Program.

‘A well-trained citizenry would aid minimize the damage and casualties that
natural disasters bring. The knowledge and skills from such an emergency and disaster
response program may spell the difference for a lot of our fellow probinsyanos, especially
those in highly-vulnerable areas.

It is for these purposes that the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ELOS SANTOS
Representativg“Ang Prébinsyano Party List

* http://nine.cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/11/25/philippines-fourth-most-disaster-prone-country htm!


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5646

Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos

AN ACT

MANDATING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF EMERGENCY AND DISASTER
RESPONSE TRAINING IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Laging Handa Act”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ 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
encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs,

To this end, the State shall ensure that each student that goes through its basic
education curriculum shall be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills needed
to respond to emergencies and crises of varying nature.

SECTION 3. Coverage. - The program mandated under this Act shall apply to all
students from Grade 11 to Grade 12 in all high schools in public and private
institutions.

SECTION 4. Emergency and Disaster Response Program. — There is hereby
established a mandatory emergency and disaster response program for students
enrolled in Grade 11, and to be completed in Grade 12. Said program shall form part of


the basic curricula for basic education in public and private educational institutions in
pursuance to the provisions of this Act.

Any student who fails to undergo this program in accordance with this Act shall
not be qualified for graduation. Any educational institute that fails to institute and
implement the Emergency and Disaster response program in pursuance of this Act shall
be subject to disciplinary and administrative sanctions as the Department of Education
(DepEd) may impose.

SECTION 5. Program of Instruction. - The Emergency and Disaster Response
Program shall have the following program of instruction:

a) For Grade 11, there shall be mandatory course units on basic medical
procedures and first aid. This aspect of the Program shall have instruction
both in the theoretical and practical aspects of first aid. There shall also be
theoretical instruction on practical zoology and botany, and principles in
emergency and disaster response. The appropriate skills examination shall be
administered to gauge the student's proficiency with such.

b) For Grade 12, the course units required shall entail practical survival and
emergency response skills. This basic survival and emergency response
training aims to organize and train citizens in disaster preparedness and
enable them to assist in evacuation and rescue operations.

c) For both aspects of the Program, there shall be civic training for students in
order for them to be active participants and volunteers for the development
and improvement of health, education, ecology, and environmental
protection, disaster reduction and management, and human and civil rights
awareness.

SECTION 6. Persons Exempted from this Act. - The following persons are
exempted from the coverage of this Act:

a) Students who are physically or psychologically unfit, as certified by
authorized medical personnel;

b) Students who may be exempted from training for valid reasons which may be
authorized jointly by DepEd and the academic institutions where the
concerned student is enrolled;

SECTION 7. Funding. - The funds for the establishment, maintenance and
operation of the Emergency and Disaster Response Program shall be provided for in the
general appropriations act of the Department of Education.


SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of National
Defense, DepEd, in consultation with other relevant government agencies and private
stakeholders, such as but not limited to the Philippine Red Cross, as the Secretary of
Education may determine, shall design and formulate the Program of Instruction on the
Emergency and Disaster Response Program within sixty (60) days from the approval of
this Act. They shall also jointly issue the implementing rules and regulations for the
effective implementations of the provisions of this Act within thirty (30) days from the
approval of this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are
hereby amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force
and effect.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,