SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2539 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'14 
DEC 22 
TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE TO ESTABLISH A 
COMPETITIVE PROGRAM TO MAKE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
LOCATED IN AREAS UNDER A HIGH THREAT OF TERRORIST ATTACKS, 
NATURAL DISASTERS, OR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES 
EXPLANA TORY NOTE 
The Philippines is said to be vulnerable to a variety of natural hazards, such as 
typhoons, periodic droughts, earthquakes, and f100ds. In addition to natural hazards, an 
P 4 :14 
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ongoing conflict in the southern Philippines has displaced hundreds of thousands of 
people over the last three decades. l 
According to Citizen's Disaster Response Center (CDRC), the Philippines is 
reportedly ranked second to China in the top ten list of countries most affected by natural 
disasters in 2009.2 
Thus, there is an immediate need [or comprehensive and coordinated emergency 
preparedness planning support for public schools nationwide. 
Historically, public schools have: 
1. had limited roles in the emergency preparedness planning process administered 
by other government agencies; 
2. not received priority consideration in that process; and 
3. had minimal access to funds allocated to emcrgency preparedness. 
http://www.usaid.gov/our work/humanitarian assistance/qisaster assistance/publications/run mitJm.od~.rogram 
updates/phil ippines preparedness. pdf. 
2 h llgj Iwww.a11voices.coI11/ co n t Ii b 1I teJi:. n eJ v sl iiJJ1QJlQ, th e-g h i ljpJ2itle-11 ced s-Q:Qillt er::d is ~_ili;r::l"I\,12ared 11~§§,_ 
program. 
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The grants made under this bill will enable public schools to take an active role in 
emergency planning and give them access to the broad range of skills and expertise of the 
many other government agencies involved in emergency planning and preparedness 3 
l This bill was originaliy tiled in the U.S. HOllse of Representatives by Representatives Richardson, Bass, 
Wilson, Saca, Sablan, Jackson Lee, Norton, and Fitner, during the lI2th Congress, 1 st Session. 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2539 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1,1'. 
.
•. ,M 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE TO ESTABLISH A 
3 
COMPETITIVE PROGRAM TO MAKE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 
4 
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
5 
LOCATED IN AREAS UNDER A HImI THREAT OF TERRORIST ATTACKS, 
6 
NATURAL DISASTERS, OR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES 
7 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Elementary and 
8 
Secondary School Emergency Preparedness Planning Act." 
9 
SECTION 2. Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Preparedness 
10 
Planning Grant Program. -
11 
(A) Establishment. -
The Secretary of National Defense (here called the 
12 
"Secretary") shall establish a competitive program to make grants for emergency 
13 
preparedness planning and implementation to local educational agencies and districts 
14 
located in areas under a high threat of terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or public health 
15 
emergencies. 
16 
(B) Eligibility. - The Secretary may only award a grant under this section to a 
17 
public school that: 
18 
(I) is located near a place that is under a high threat of: 
19 
(a) terrorist attacks, as determined by the Secretary; 
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(b) natmal disasters, as determined by the Secretary, in his capacity 
2 
as chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and 
3 
Management Council; or 
4 
(c) public health emergencies, as determined by thc Secretary, m 
5 
consultation with the Secretary of Health; and 
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(2) submits an application at such time, in such form, and with such 
7 
information and assurances as the Secretary may require, including 
8 
assurances that a public school will use such grant amounts to carry out 
9 
the activities in subsection (e); and a budget and timeline [or carrying 
10 
out such activities. 
11 
(C) Priority. -
12 
(1) Initial Priority. - In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
13 
shall give priority (0 public schools located in areas with higher 
14 
population densities and that are under a higher threat of terrorist 
15 
attacks, natural disasters, or public health emergencies than other local 
16 
educational agencies and districts eligible under subsection (b). 
17 
(2) Further Priority. - Among the priority local educational agencies and 
18 
districts described in paragraph (I), the Secretary shall give further 
19 
priority to public schools that have in the past demonstrated the ability 
20 
to formulate and implement effective emergency preparedness plans. 
21 
(D) Grant Amount. -
Amounts awarded under this Act shall not exceed 
22 
P500,OOO.OO per public school per fIscal year. 
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SECTION 3. Use of Funds. -
2 
(A) Required Use of Funds. -
3 
(1) In General. - A public school recciving a grant under this Act shall use 
4 
such funds to implement or to formulate and implement an emergency 
5 
preparedness plan. 
6 
(2) Elements of Plan. - The plan required shall provide for: 
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(a) the creation in the office of the superintendcnt or other chief 
8 
executive officer of the public school of a School Emergency 
9 
Response Center to provide coordination, communication, and 
10 
support for school-based emergency preparedness planning and 
11 
implementation; 
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(b) the creation of a Regional Advisory Council chaired by the 
13 
superintendent or other chief executive officer of the public 
14 
school and composed of other appropriate representatives from 
15 
the public school and from emergency management and law 
enforcement 
agencies, 
local 
public 
health 
offices, 
16 
17 
nongovernmental 
organizations, 
and 
other 
appropriate 
18 
stakeholders; and 
19 
( c) the development of a plan specific to each school under the 
20 
public school's authority for each type of emergency likely to 
21 
occur in the area. 
22 
(8) Permitted Use of Funds. - A public school receiving a grant under this Act 
23 
may use any such funds remaining after complying with the requircments 
24 
paragraph (A)(1) for any purpose relating to emergency preparedness planning 
25 
or implementation. 
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1 
SECTION 4. Authorization of Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this 
2 
Act, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each 
3 
fiscal year 
4 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
5 
unconstitutional, any othcr provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and 
5 
effect. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, 
8 
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby rcpealed or amendcd accordingly. 
9 
SECTION 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
10 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/fldpdec20 14 
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