Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate schools and universities to identify the types of disasters to
which they are prone and to mandate the posting of warning signs and illustrations for
the information of the school community, especially the students and parents. It aims to
1) establish a grading system for schools and universities by which their vulnerability to
disasters is quantified; 2) inform the school community, especially the parents and
children, of the vulnerabilities of the school to disaster, and 3) establish and practice a
comprehensive disaster preparedness and emergency plan specifically designed for the
school.

In 2010, Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
‘Act was passed. It adopted a disaster risk reduction and management approach that is
holistic, comprehensive, integrated, and proactive in lessening the socioeconomic and
environmental impacts of disasters including climate change, and promote the
involvement and participation of all sectors and all stakeholders concerned, at all levels,
especially the local community.

Through the years, we have opened public schools in disaster-prone areas to serve as
the refuge of evacuees, people who have lost their homes or are in grave danger if they
remain in their homes. However, we have also seen our very own schools succumb to
disaster. We have seen our children wade through the floods with their heavy backpacks
in the pouring rain, We have seen students step on dilapidated chairs to avoid the murky
floodwaters that invaded their classroom. A few years ago, we saw a Bicolano child,
Janella Lelis, brave the pouring rain and the strong winds to save a Philippine flag that
was blown away from her schoo!'s flagpole.

It is therefore of paramount importance that the parents, prior to enrolling their child in
a school, are made aware of the possible risks that their child might face while in the
school premises. More importantly, students must know how to act as a quick response

estly sought.

[7
RODEL M. BATOCABE



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

AN ACT
MANDATING ALL SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES TO ESTABLISH AN AREA-SPECIFIC
DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THEIR RESPECTIVE,
JURISDICTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10121,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER,
RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, PROVIDING FOR THE NATIONAL.
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK AND
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND
MANAGEMENT PLAN, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”

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

SECTION 1. Section 14 of Republic Act no. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010" is hereby amended as follows:

Section 14. Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction Education into the School
Curricula and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Program and Mandatory Training for
the Public Sector Employees. - The DepED, the CHED, the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in coordination with the OCD, the
National Youth Commission (NYC), the DOST, the DENR, the DILG-BFP, the DOH,
the DSWD and other relevant agencies, shall integrate disaster risk reduction
and management education in the school curricula of secondary and tertiary
level of education, including the National Service Training Program (NSTP),
whether private or public, including formal and nonformal, technical-vocational,
indigenous learning, and out-of-school youth courses and programs.

The said agencies shall conduct a risk assessment survey to identify all
disaster-prone schools and universities, and specify the kind of disasters
to which they are vulnerable. A numerical grade equivalent to the dangers
present in the school location shall be imposed on the school. Such grade
shall be based on the extent of potential danger in the school as well as the
capacity of the school to conduct an emergency response system and a
contingency plan in case the need arises.

Such information shall be depicted in warning signs and illustrations and
shall be posted in at least five (5) conspicuous places in the school


premises. The faculty and staff, students and parents shall be regularly
informed of the risks and methods of preparedness and response.

‘The warning signs and posters to be posted shall contain the following
information:

1) a large, conspicuous text indicating that the school is disaster-prone,
and specifying the kind of disaster/s;

2) a large illustration of the said disaster/s;

3) a sequential illustration and text of a preparedness plan and a
contingency plan in case of disaster; and

4) a hazard map plotting escape routes from where such sign is posted.

The school or university administration shall inform the parents intending
to enroll their children to the said school about the disaster risks and the
preparedness and contingency plans of the school prior to enrollment.

‘The NDRRMC, the RDRRMCs, the LDRRMCs, the LDRRMOs, the BDRRMCs and
the SK councils shall encourage community, specifically the youth, participation
in disaster risk reduction and management activities, such as organizing quick
response groups, particularly in identified disaster-prone areas, as well as the
inclusion of disaster risk reduction and management programs as part of the SK
programs and projects.

The public sector employees shall be trained in emergency response and
preparedness. The training is mandatory for such employees to comply with the
provisions of this Act.

SECTION 2. Section 20 of the said Act is hereby amended as follows:

Section 20. Penal Clause. - Any individual, corporation, partnership, association,
or other juridical entity that commits any of the prohibited acts provided for in
Section 19 of this Act shall be prosecuted and upon conviction shall suffer a fine
of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (PhpS0,000.00) or any amount not to
exceed Five hundred thousand pesos (php500,000.00) or imprisonment of not
less than six (6) years and one (1) day or more than twelve (12) years, or both,
at the discretion of the court, including perpetual disqualification from public
office if the offender IS a public officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of
the government of the objects and the instrumentalities used in committing any
ofherein prohibited acts.

If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, or other juridical
entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers of the
corporation, partnership, association or entity responsible for the violation
without prejudice to the cancellation or revocation of these entities license or
accreditation issued to them by any licensing or accredited body of the
government. If such offender is an alien, he or she shall, in addition to the
penalties prescribed in this Act, be deported without further proceedings after
service of the sentence.

If a school or university fails to post warning signs and its grade as
required in Section 14 of this Act, or fails to inform the parents of the
status of the school as a disaster-prone area, the same penalty shall be


imposed upon the principal, president or such other designated position
responsible for the violation without prejudice to the cancellation or
revocation of their license or accreditation.

However, the prosecution for offenses set forth in Section 19 of this Act shall be
without prejudice to any liability for violation of Republic Act No. 3185, as
amended, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, and other civil liabilities.

Section 5. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full
force and effect.

Section 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved.