Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES // RECEIVED
Quezon City (2 pATEMAY!
18™ CONGRESS a + 4tle,

First Regular Session \ %, TIME: <4

\e BY:
House Bill No. _ 6690

Introduced by Representative EVELINA G. ESCUDERO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is a declared national policy that “[tJhe State shall give priority to
education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and
development.”! In this regard, it is mandated to “[e]stablish, maintain, and support a
complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the
people and society.

In the light of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic that has
continued to date disturbed and claimed numerous lives, not only in the country but
throughout the entire world, the necessary know-how and education with regard to
basic medical training and disaster awareness and response to national emergency
situations should be aptly integrated into the country’s education system.

This bill seeks to specifically address the integration of basic health and
medical training, disaster awareness and response, and or other similar and
analogous courses or subjects relevant to national disaster or emergency situations in
all institutions of learning.

With the staggering number of active and emerging cases of the disease
which rise to date globally, preparedness for national emergencies such as the
COVID 19 pandemic cannot be understated. This is a wake-up call for all of us to
inculcate relevant, appropriate, and updated learnings in this regard.

It is submitted that the passage of this bill will be of utmost importance and
relevance in the light of our current situation.

1 Section 17 Article II, 1987 Philippine Constitution.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
18™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __ 6690

Introduced by Representative EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

AN ACT
INTEGRATING BASIC MEDICAL AND HEALTH TRAINING AND RISK
REDUCTION, NATIONAL EMERGENCY OR DISASTER AWARENESS,
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE IN THE CURRICULUM OF
SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING

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 and cited as the “Crisis
Education Act of 2020.”

Sec. 2. Integration of Basic Medical Training and Disaster Awareness or
Response, - 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 medical training, national
emergency or disaster awareness, preparedness and response.

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
(NDRRMO), 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. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,