Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Fires remain a serious threat that occur by thousands in this country every year. They do not 
only cause unforeseen economic blows, but also claim the lives and properties of our people. 
Science explains that fire requires oxygen to combust, instantaneously robbing victims of the 
oxygen level they need to be able to think clearly and focus.  The Bureau of Fire Protection 
has recorded 14 fire-related deaths in the past two years. Further, their data shows that there 
has been an occurrence of 159 fire incidents, with damages reaching more than P16.6 million.1 
This bill primarily intends to safeguard the most vulnerable in instances of fire–our youth. We 
shall protect our school children from injuries or deaths from fire by requiring the disclosure of 
information with respect to campus fire safety practices and standards of all public and private 
academic institutions.  
Schools shall be mandated to disclose to their students and employees a detailed summary 
of all educational facilities including student housing facilities, with a statement of whether or 
not the facilities are equipped with a fire sprinkler system or any other fire safety system, or 
both. They shall also be required to provide statistics regarding fire occurrence such as cause, 
casualties and/or injuries. These reports shall be submitted to the Secretary of Education, who 
in turn, shall furnish Congress with a comprehensive summary of all reports from schools. 
Survival lies in planning and practice. This bill seeks to ensure that the government is apprised 
of the situation of our schools, and their readiness in case of fire occurrence. Ultimately, the 
data generated and updated annually shall help the government draft more responsive 
measures for fire prevention and control.   
In consideration of the foregoing, the swift passage of this bill is humbly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” C.  ENCISO VIII 
1 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168772 
August 23, 2022
2:00 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE COMPULSORY DISCLOSURE OF FIRE SAFETY 
STANDARDS AND MEASURES IN CAMPUS BUILDINGS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Campus Fire Safety Right-
to-Know Act.” 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall be 
understood to mean as follows: 
1. “Chairman” refers to the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education;
2. “CHED” refers to the Commission on Higher Education.
SECTION 3. Disclosure of Fire Safety Standards and Measures in Campus 
Buildings. – All public and private educational institutions shall, beginning in the 
Academic Year 2018-2019, and each year thereafter, prepare, publish and distribute, 
through appropriate publications or mailings to all current students and employees and 
to any applicant for enrolment or employment upon request, an annual Fire Safety 
Report containing at least the following information with respect to their campus fire 
safety practices and standards: 
A. A detailed summary of all educational facilities including student housing
facilities of the institution, if any, with a statement of whether or not the facilities
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are equipped with a fire sprinkler system or any other fire safety system, or 
both. 
 
B. If available, statistics concerning the occurrence on campus during the two (2) 
preceding calendar year of fires and false alarms in the subject facilities. 
 
C. For each such occurrence, a statement of the human injuries or deaths, and 
the structural damage caused by the occurrence. 
 
D. Information regarding fire alarms, smoke alarms, the presence of adequate fire 
escape planning or protocols, rules on portable electrical appliances, smoking 
and open flames (such as candles), regular mandatory supervised fire drills, 
and planned and future improvement in fire safety. 
 
E. Preventive steps and/or programs and other fire safety undertaken by the 
educational institution concerned to curb and mitigate fire hazards. 
 
SECTION 4. Autonomy of Educations/Institutions. – Nothing in the previous 
section shall be construed to authorize the Secretary of the Department of Education 
and/or the Chairman, when applicable, to require particular policies, procedures, or 
practices by educational institutions with respect to fire safety. 
 
SECTION 5. Periodic Reports. – Each institution covered by this Act shall make 
periodic reports to the campus community on fires and false alarms which are reported 
to local fire departments in a manner that will aid the prevention of similar occurrences. 
 
SECTION 6. Reports to the Secretary of Education and/or Chairman. – On an 
annual basis, each institution covered by this Act shall submit to the Secretary of 
Education or any of his duly authorized representative, in the cases of primary and 
secondary educational institutions and the Chairman or any of his duly authorized 
representative, in the cases of tertiary educational institutions, a copy of the 
information required to be disclosed under Section 3 hereof. Thereafter, the Secretary 
of Education and the Chairman, in proper cases, shall: 
A. Review such statistics; 


 
B. Make copies of statistics available to the public; and 
 
C. In coordination with representatives of the institutions concerned, identify 
exemplary fire and safety policies, procedures, and practices and disseminate 
information concerning those policies, procedures and practices that have been 
proven effective in the reduction of campus fires. 
 
SECTION 7. Report to Congress by the Secretary of Education and/or Chairman 
of CHED. – Within one (1) year after the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of 
Education and/or Chairman of the CHED, in proper cases, shall prepare and submit 
to the Congress a report containing the following: 
A. An analysis of the current status of the fire safety systems in all educational 
facilities covered by this Act; 
 
B. An analysis of the appropriate fire safety standards to apply to these facilities, 
which the Secretary of Education and/or the Chairman, in proper cases, shall 
prepare after consultation with such fire safety experts, representative of 
educational institutions, and other government agencies as the Secretary of 
Education and/or Chairman, considers appropriate; 
 
C. An estimate of the cost of bringing all nonconforming dormitories and other 
campus buildings up to current building codes; and 
 
D. Recommendations concerning the best means of meeting fire safety standards 
in all facilities, including recommendations for methods to fund such cost. 
 
SECTION 8. Lead Agency. – The Department of Education shall be the lead 
government agency tasked to implement this Act. 
 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Education 
shall issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations to enforce the provisions 
of this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days from the enactment of this law. 
 


SECTION 10. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,