HUUSiL OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 17
OF THE PHILIPPINES ) pare _] 7 AUG 2016
First Regular Session ) sae (om
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI
HB. No. S0Y it RATION UNIT,

DEX SERVICE

Introduced by Representative Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A GUN
SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM AND INCLUDE THIS IN THE CURRICULUM
OF ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
‘The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13 states:
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
nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs

Section 15 states:

The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people
and instill health consciousness among them

A child as young as three has the finger strength to pull a trigger. Many parents
incorrectly assume that their child is educated about gun safety, can tell the difference
between a real gun and a toy gun, and would know not to handle a real gun. A study in

the June 2001 issue of Pediatrics showed this to be false.


The 2002 edition of /njury Facts from the U.S. National Safety Council reports
that in 1999, there were 3,385 kids below the age of twenty who were killed with a gun.
This includes homicides, suicides, and unintentional injuries.

In the United States, programs have been developed to educate parents and
children about gun safety due to the increasing number of injuries from guns. These
include such programs as the Eddie Eagle gun safety program from the National Rifle
Association and the “Keep Your Family Safe from Firearm Injury” program of the
American Academy of Pediatrics. Gun safety is a collection of rules and
recommendations that can be applied when handling firearms. The purpose of gun safety
is to eliminate or minimize the risks of unintentional death, injury or damage caused by
improper storage and handling of firearms. It emphasizes the danger and possible serious
consequences of playing with guns.

The Philippines has no such gun safety program designed for children and their
parents. Yet, we are confronted with regular reports of gun-related deaths in the country.
In fact, in May 2009, Reuters reported that the Philippines had more gun-related deaths
than any other country in Asia relative to its size. Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Rafal
told reporters that about 70 percent of small arms are in the hands of civilians and that the
number of small arms has grown about 10 percent since 2007, matched by an increase in
gun-related violence in the country.

These figures make it incumbent on us to treat this issue as an urgent public health
matter. Consequently, this bill proposes a comprehensive program which shall include
mandatory gun safety education for all students and their parents, in order to resolve and

2


prevent the problems and dangers relating to the use of guns. Being safe can keep kids
and even adults from getting hurt. All kids should know what to do if they find a gun or if
they are with someone who finds a gun or what to do if'a gun is fired by accident

It is imperative that we establish such programs if we want to save lives.'

uh ROQUE JR.

" This bill was originally filed in during the Fourteenth Congress, Third Regular Session, and
refiled by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago in the Sixteenth Congress, Third Regular Session,


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)
OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B No.

Introduced by Representative Harry L. Roque Jr

AN ACT
REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A GUN

SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM AND INCLUDE THIS IN THE CURRICULUM

OF ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS,

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

Congress assembled:

1 SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Gun Safety Education

2 Act.”

3 SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:

4 ‘A. “DepEd” means the Department of Education.

5 B. “Gun Safety Education Program” means an age-appropriate, research-based

6 program that educates children and their parents on how to prevent or respond to

7 problems or dangers related to firearms.

8 C. “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Education

9 SECTION 3. Incorporation of a Gun Safety Education Program in the curriculum

10 of Public and Private Secondary Schools. — A program on Gun Safety Education shall be

11 incorporated in the curriculum of both public and private elementary and secondary


schools. In addition, to this, gun safety classes will be offered at times convenient to

parents, including evenings and weekends

SECTION 4. Implementing Agency and its Duties. —

A. The DepEd shall:

(1) identify, develop, and implement gun safety education programs.

The DepEd shall consult with a certified firearms instructors, and research

on programs in other jurisdictions which have shown to be effective;

(2) develop online gun safety programs for children and their
parents;

(3) develop and implement public education campaigns to promote
awareness of online risks to children and Internet safety education;

B. The DepEd Secretary shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those of disciplinary nature,
to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. Further, the DepEd shall be the
lead agency in the carrying out the following: the Secretary is hereby authorized
and directed to adopt a system to implement and carry out the provisions of this

Act.

SECTION 5. Appropriation. — To carry out the provisions of this Act, such
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National
Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of this program
shall be included in the annual appropriation of the DepEd.

$


SECTION 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other

provisions hereof,

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or
portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby

repealed, amended or modified accordingly

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,