NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. NO. o
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RKEfVEO BY:
C^73
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 24% of all deaths worldwide in 2016, and caused the death of 3.8 
million people in Southeast Asia2 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
at
1 Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.
2 World Health Organization, Environmental Health in the South-East Asia, accessible 
httDs://www.who.int/southeastasia/health-toDics/environmental-health {last accessed July 11,2022).
3 An estimated 12.6 million deaths each year are attributable to unhealthy environments, March 15, 2016, 
accessible at https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/15-03-2016-an-estimated-12-6-million-deaths-each-y-ear-are- 
attributable-to-unhealthv-environments {last accessed July 11,2022).
4 Sovacool, Benjamin K. Environmental Issues, Climate Changes, Energy Security in Developing Asia. Asian 
Development Bank Economics Working Paper Series, June 2014, accessible at 
https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/42604/ewp-399.pdf_(date last accessed: January 8, 2020).
5 Id.


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 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 J0EL VILLANUEVA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
le
of fl)i* &->fCfelarp
^ Jll U A10 48
SENATE
s. B. NO. 573
REGEtViOgV:
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 the11 Environmental Education 
in Senior High School Act”
SEC. 2. Declaration of 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, the 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 of Environmental Education in Senior High School 
(SHS) Curriculum. - 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 Science, Technology, 
Engineering and Mathematics (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.
SEC. 4. Coverage. - 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. 5. Implementing Rules and Guidelines. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd, in consultation with the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the National Disaster Risk Reduction 
and Management Council (NDRRMC) and other appropriate government agencies 
and relevant stakeholders, shall formulate the rules and regulations to effectively 
implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision 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. 7. 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. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,