Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8451
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S, TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines’ geographical location and physical environment make it highly susceptible to
numerous natural hazards such as sea level rise, storm surges, landslides,
flood/fiashflood/flooding, and drought. The Philippines is located at the Pacific ring of fire which
isa path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. It
is also located right at the midst of the Pacific typhoon belt. Consequently, more tropical cyclones
enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) than anywhere else in the world. Philippines
experience an average of 20 tropical cyclones yearly, 5-6 of which are highly destructive.

Between 2000 and 2016, natural disasters in the Philippines caused over 23,000 deaths and
affected roughly 125 million people. During the last quarter of 2020 alone, Typhoon Rolly killed
at least 20 people and Typhoon Ulysses claimed at least 76 lives.

On top of this, drowning remains to be a serious public health issue with at least 3000 Filipinos
of all ages die annually from drowning injury (0.43% of deaths for all age groups), more than a
third (35.6%) affect children under 14 years (3.2% of deaths among children 0-14 years). A
study by the Philippine Statistics Office in 2013 showed that an average of 3726 cases of
accidental drowning and submersion occurs annually in the Philippines.

Considering the many lives lost and the responsibilty of the State to protect the lives of its citizens,
itis imperative that the State adopts a program which could reduce such mortalities. In this light,
this proposed measure seeks to ingrate first aid and survival skills training to the curricula of
learning institutions.

On behalf of the people of Parafiaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.

REP. J itn J dda

rict, Parafiaque City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8451

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S, TAMBUNTING

‘AN ACT
MANDATING THE INTEGRATION OF BASIC FIRST AID, AND SURVIVAL SKILLS
TRAINING IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING, AND
PROVIDING THE APPROPRIATE 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 “Basic First Aid and Survival Skills
Education Act."

Sec. 2. integration of Basic First Aid Training and Survival Skills Training. — All
institutions of learning, including but not limited to, schools, colleges, universities, vocational
learning institutions, shall integrate into their respective curricula and make available to all its
students relevant and updated subjects, units, electives or courses regarding basic first aid
training, and survival skills training.

Sec. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Department of Health
(DOH). Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), shall promulgate the corresponding
implementing rules and regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days from the date of its
effectivity.

Sec. 4. Appropriations. - The funds necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be
sourced from the respective budgets of the CHED and the DepEd in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, and rules and regulations inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed. amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion of its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,