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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
u~Hh;r \Jf HI\' ~t.rcr&'t:uq 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
SEP -5 P5 :33 
SEN.f.IIL 
S. No. l0t:}S 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to provide for disclosure of fire safety standards and measures with respect 
to campus buildings of higher learning by calling upon colleges and universities to report 
information on the level of fire safety on their campuses to the Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED) and to the public. 
This legislation will help parents to identify schools that set a strong emphasis on fire 
safety. When selecting a school, studeni~ and parents must also consider the school's track record 
when it comes to fire safety. The Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act will provide them with 
the vital information they need to make an informed decision.' 
• This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1566 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
,§erltth 
tilih;r (If tlli! ,j,tn I't:'1f, 
"13 
SEP -5 PS :33 
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AN ACT 
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MANDATING DISCLOSURE OF FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS AND MEASURES WITH 
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RESPECT TO CAMPUS BUILDINGS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Campus Fire Safety Right-to-
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Know Act." 
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SECTION 2. Disclosure of Fire Safoty Standards and Measures of Campus Buildings. -
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(A) 
Fire Safety Reports Required - Colleges and universities shall, beginning in the 
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academic year next following the effectivity of this Act, and each year thereafter, prepare, 
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publish, and distribute, through appropriate publications or mailings, to all current students and 
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employees, and to any applicant for enrollment or employment upon request, an annual fire 
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safety report containing at least the following information with respect to the campus fire safety 
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practices and standards of that institution: 
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(a) 
A statement that identifies each student housing facility of the institution, 
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and whether or not that facility is equipped with a fire sprinkler system or 
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other fire safety systems, or both; 
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(b) 
Statistics concerning the occurrence on canlpus, during the two (2) 
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preceding calendar years for which data are available, of fires and false fire 
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alarms in student housing facilities. 
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(c) 
For each such occurrence, a statement of the human injuries or deaths and 
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the structural damage caused by the occurrence. 
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(d) 
Information regarding fire alarms, smoke alarms, the presence of adequate 
fire escape planning or protocols, roles "on portable electrical appliances, " 
smoking and open flames (such as candles), regular mandatory supervised 
fire drills, and planned and future improvement in fire safety. 
(B) 
Rule of Construction - Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize 
the Commission on Higher Education (hereinafter "CHED") to require particular policies, 
procedures, or practices by institutions of higher education with respect to fire safety. 
(C) 
Reports - Colleges and universities shall make periodic reports to the campus 
community on fires and false fire alarms that are reported to local fire departments in a manner 
that will aid the prevention of similar occurrences. 
(D) 
Reports to the CHED - On an annual basis, colleges and universities shall submit 
to the CHED a copy of the statistics required to be made available nnder paragraph (A)(b). The 
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CHED shall: 
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(a) 
review such statistics; 
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(b) 
make copies of the statistics submitted to the CHED available to the public; 
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and 
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(c) 
in coordination with representatives of colleges and universities, identifY 
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exemplary fire safety policies, procedures, and practices and disseminate 
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information concerning those policies, procedures, and practices that have 
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proven effective in the reduction of campus fires. 
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SECTION 3. Report to Congress by the CHED. - Within one (1) year after the effectivity 
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of this Act, the CHED shall prepare and submit to the Congress a report containing--
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(A) 
An analysis of the current status of fire safety systems in college and university 
facilities, including sprinkler systems; 
(B) 
An analysis of the appropriate fire safety standards to apply to these facilities, 
which the CHED shall prepare after consultation with fire safety experts, representatives of 
institutions of higher education, and other appropriate government agencies; 
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(C) 
An estimate of the cost of bringing all nonconforming dormitories and other 
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campus buildings up to current new building and fire safety codes; and 
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(D) 
Recommendations from the CHED concerning the best means of meeting fire 
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safety standards in all college and university facilities, including recommendations for methods 
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to fund such cost. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
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provisions ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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