Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

- 932

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Czarina D. Umali

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill attempts to include the teaching of ecology as one of the possible
subjects in all elementary and high school levels of the Philippines pursuant to the
promotion of environmental consciousness provided in Section 16 of Article II of the
New Constitution.

The Philippine educational system today lacks the quality of a holistic education.
Its concem focuses primarily on the mental and corporal development of the youth, to the
exclusion of the environmental concerns/needs of the society, For the past number of
years, our country experienced environmental holocaust ascribable to the wanton
destruction of forest reserves, soil erosion, siltation, pollution, nuclear and toxic waste,
endangering the future generations. Such arises due to the unintegrated and speculative
system of education offered to the youth, which in reality do not respond to the needs of
the people. Although the system theoretically encourages critical and creative thinking, it
fails empirically to promote environmental awareness and vigilance which is a condition
sine qua non a holistic education required under the New Constitution.

‘The bill requiring the teaching of ecology aims to make our educational system
complete, adequate and integrated relevant to the needs of the people and the society as
provided in Section 2, par. 1 of Article XIV of our constitution. In effect, a priori, the
youth will become more ecologically aware and vigilant, understand the dynamic
relationships which support and maintain the bio-system. demonstrate practical solutions
to the intricacies of the environmental imbalance the Philippines is facing. Such
ecological subject will surely re-orient our sense of education and progress that the
achievement of common vision for natural progress depends primordially on a holistic
and liberal education.



In order to effectively deal with the escalating ecological decay of our
environment, the State opt to promote environmental activism under Section 16 of Article
II of the Constitution as a form of moral and political expressions in relation to Section
17 of the same Article prioritizing education to promote total human liberation and
development. Thus, favorable action on this matter is earnestly requested.

: * > ‘
Hon, aan, [0 UMALI

Reepresentative
3" District, Nueva Ecija


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

. 932

Introduced by Honorable Czarina D. Umali

House Bill }

AN ACT.
PROVIDING FOR THE TEACHING OF ECOLOGY IN ALL ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY LEVELS, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE OF THE
PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SEC. 1. The teaching of ecology as a separate subject is hereby included as one
of the possible subjects in all elementary and high school levels, either public or private,
of the Philippines. The Secretary of Education shall issue the necessary reading
materials, booklets and pamphlet dealing with the fundamentals of ecology in relation to
the pressing environmental issues in the Philippines.

SEC. 2. The amount necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this
Act shall be charged against the appropriations allotted for the Department of Education
under the General Appropriations Act of the current fiscal year. Thereafter, such sums
may be necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 3. This act shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

Approved.