EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 1282
v 
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20 JAN 21 A8 52
RECi:;v:OBV.
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION 
IN THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (SHS) CURRICULUM
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Waste disposal problems, water and air pollution, deforestation, biodiversity 
loss, climate change, and countless other environment issues plague the Philippines. 
The poor1 and those whose livelihoods depend on agriculture, coastal ecosystems, 
food systems feel most intensely the impact of such problems.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), environmental problems 
caused around 25% of all deaths worldwide in 2012, and across regions, the highest 
number of related deaths was recorded in the Southeast Asia (3.8 million deaths).2 
Deaths due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as stroke, heart diseases, 
and cancers are largely attributable to air pollution, while other deaths such as those 
due to malaria and diarrhea are attributable to poor sanitation and waste 
management.3
From a climate standpoint, the Philippines is among the countries that stand to 
lose the largest, almost double the global average loss.4 The Intergovernmental 
Panel on Climate Change points that due to the unique geography and climatology, 
low per capita incomes, and urbanization patterns of Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam 
and Thailand, they are estimated to lose 6.7% of their combined Gross Domestic 
Product in 2100 if the current trend in environmental degradation continues.5
In this light, this bill seeks to integrate environmental education in the Senior 
High School curriculum. This is in recognition of the fact that educational attainment
1 Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.
2 2016, March 15. “An estimated 12.6 million deaths each year are attributable to unhealthy environments." 
Available at https://www.\who.int/news-room/detail/15-03-2016-an-estimated-12-6-million-deaths-each-year-are- 
attributable-to-unhealthy-environments (date last accessed: January 8, 2020).
3 Ibid.
A Sovacool, Benjamin K. Environmental Issues, Climate Changes, Energy Security in Developing Asia. Asian 
Development 
Bank 
Economics 
Working 
Paper 
Series, 
June 
2014. 
Available 
at 
https://www.adb.org/sites/defaultyfiles/publication/42604/ewp-399.pdf (date last accessed: January 8, 2020).
5 Ibid.


is considered by a number of studies as the single strongest determinant of public 
awareness of environmental issues such as climate change.
Environmental education seeks to enhance awareness and sensitivity of 
students on global and local environmental issues and engages them into taking 
actions to sustain and advance the quality of our environment. This measure is also 
in line with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 2030 vision of 
reducing environmental risks and increasing resilience of societies and the 
environmental as a whole.
Indeed, 
better understanding 
of the environment is 
seen 
to 
improve 
participation of citizens in active environmental protection and thereby contribute to 
the reduction of the country’s vulnerabilities to impacts of environmental degradation.
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR J^E L  VILLANUEVA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
^pnai’'
(£>Uitr s( Ilir iet n rtar?
20 JAN 21 AS 62
SENATE
S. B. NO. 1282
RECtr
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION 
IN THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (SHS) CURRICULUM
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SEC. 1. Short Title, -  This Act shall be known as the “Environmental Education in 
Senior High School Act.”
SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  The Constitution provides that the State shall 
protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in 
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. Pursuant to this, State shall formulate 
and institutionalize environmental policies that protect the environment against 
degradation and deterioration, and shall ensure that such policies are widely 
disseminated to all its citizens.
SEC. 3. Integration o f Environm ental Education in Senior High School (SHS) 
C urriculum . -  All public and private senior high schools (SHS) are mandated to 
integrate Environmental Education in the core SHS subjects (i) Disaster Readiness 
and Risk Reduction and (ii) Earth Science for those under the STEM Strand, or (i) 
Earth and Life Science and (ii) Physical Science for those under the other SHS 
tracks; Provided, That in the event that there shall be an amendment to the K-12 
curriculum and the list of core subjects taken up by SHS students, the Department of 
Education (DepEd) shall ensure that Environmental Education is integrated in 
another core subject.
Environmental Education shall increase students’ understanding, awareness, and 
sensitivity to the environment and environmental challenges, and improve the 
attitudes and motivation towards maintaining environmental quality. It shall include, 
but not be limited, to the teaching of the following;


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(i) 
how natural environments function and how human activities increase 
hazards to disasters, environmental degradation, and resource depletion, 
among others;
(ii) 
relevant national and local environmental laws;
(iii) 
pressing global and local environmental issues; and
(iv) 
measures to prevent and mitigate the effects of climate change.
SEC. 4. Im plem enting Rules and G uidelines. -  Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, DepEd, in consultation with appropriate government agencies 
and other relevant stakeholders, shall formulate the rules and regulations to 
effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 5. Separability Clause. -  Any portion or provisions of this Act that may be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other 
portions and provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can 
still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and 
administrative regulations, or any parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby revoked, repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 7. 
E ffectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) national papers of general circulation or in the Official 
Gazette.
A pproved,