Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATTIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

823

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE COMPULSORY DISCLOSURE OF FIRE
SAFETY STANDARDS AND MEASURES IN CAMPUS
BUILDINGS.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Bearing in mind the paramount importance of ensuring our students’
safety, this Bill seeks to compel alll learning institutions, whether public or private,
to disclose their current fire safety practices and programs so that areas of
improvement can be properly identified and appropriate measures adopted

Considering the congestion of students in certain educational facilities, the
hazard posed by fire cannot be discounted. It is therefore imperative for
educational institutions to take concrete steps which can guarantee their
capability of dealing with such potential hazard. By mandating the compulsory
disclosure of fire safety practices, it is hoped that all concerned parties will be
able to intelligibly recommend programs and preventive action with the view of
keeping our educational institutions safe and equipped to handle fire incidents.

In view of the foregoing, we urge the immediate passage of this Bill.

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DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO GLO} ikeaPhdat‘frnovo
Second District, Camarines Sur cond District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATTIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 823

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE COMPULSORY DISCLOSURE OF FIRE
SAFETY STANDARDS AND MEASURES IN CAMPUS
BUILDINGS.

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

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Campus Fire
Safety Right-to-Know Act of 2010.”

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act, the following terms
shall be understood to mean as follows:

1. __ “Chairman” refers to the Chairman of the Commission
on Higher Education;

2 “CHED" refers to Commission on Higher Education.

SECTION 3. Disclosure of Fire Safety Standards and Measures in Campus
Buildings.- All public and private educational institution shall, beginning in the
Academic Year 2010 — 2011, and each year thereafter, prepare, publish, and
distribute, through appropriate publications or mailings, to all current students
and employees, and to any applicant for enrollment or employment upon request,
an annual Fire Safety Report containing at least the following information with
respect to their campus fire safety practices and standards:


A.A detailed summary of all educational facilities,
including student housing facilities of the institution, if any, with a
statement of whether or not the said facilities are equipped with a
fire sprinkler system or any other fire safety system, or both.

B. If available, statistics concerning the occurrence on
campus, during the two (2) preceding calendar years of fires and
false fire alarms in the subject facilities.

Cc. For each such occurrence, a statement of the human
injuries or deaths and the structural damage caused by the
occurrence.

D. Information regarding fire alarms, smoke alarms, the

presence of adequate fire escape planning or protocols, rules on
portable electrical appliances, smoking and open flames (such as
candles), regular mandatory supervised fire drills, and planned and
future improvement in fire safety.

5 Preventive steps and/or programs and other fire
safety measures undertaken by the educational institution
concerned to curb and mitigate fire hazards.

SECTION 4. Autonomy of Educational Institutions. - Nothing in the previous
section shall be construed to authorize the Secretary of the Department of
Education and/or the Chairman, when applicable, to require particular policies,
procedures, or practices by educational institutions with respect to fire safety.

SECTION 5. Periodic Reports. — Each institution covered by this Act shall
make periodic reports to the campus community on fires and false fire alarms
which are reported to local fire departments in a manner that will aid the
prevention of similar occurrences.

SECTION 6. Reports to the Secretary of Education and/or Chairman — On
an annual basis, each institution covered by this Act shall submit to the Secretary
of Education or any of his duly authorized representative, in the cases of primary
and secondary educational institutions and the Chairman or any of his duly
authorized representative, in the cases of tertiary educational institutions, a copy
of the information required to be disclosed under Section 3 hereof. Thereafter,
the Secretary of Education and the Chairman, in proper cases, shall.

A. Review such statistics;

B. Make copies of the statistics available to the public;
and


C. _In coordination with representatives of the institutions
concerned, identify exemplary fire safety policies, procedures, and
practices and disseminate information concerning those policies,
procedures, and practices that have proven effective in the
reduction of campus fires.

SECTION 7. Report to Congress by the Secretary of Education and/or
Chairman of CHED — Within one (1) year after the effectivity of this Act, the
Secretary of Education and/or Chairman of the CHED, in proper cases, shall
prepare and submit to the Congress a report containing the following

A. __ Ananalysis of the current status of fire safety systems
in all educational facilities covered by this Act;

B. An analysis of the appropriate fire safety standards to
apply to these facilities, which the Secretary of Education and/ or
the Chairman, in proper cases, shall prepare after consultation with
such fire safety experts, representatives of educational institutions,
and other government agencies as the Secretary of Education
and/or Chairman, considers appropriate;

C. An estimate of the cost of bringing all nonconforming
dormitories and other campus buildings up to current building
codes; and

D. _ Recommendations concerning the best means of
meeting fire safety standards in all facilities, including
recommendations for methods to fund such cost.

SECTION 8. Lead Agency. — The Department of Education shall be the lead
government agency tasked to implement this Act.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of
Education shall issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations to
enforce the provisions of this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days from the
enactment of this law.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise
affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or
issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.


SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,