SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENAT.,f: 
S.No. 
~846 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A GUN 
SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM AND INCLUDE THIS IN THE CURRICULUM 
OF ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13 states: 
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building 
and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, 
and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and 
nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs. 
Section 15 states: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people 
and instill health consciousness among them. 
A child as young as three has the finger strength to pull a trigger. Many parents 
incorrectly assume that their child is educated about gun safety, can tell the difference 
between a real gun and a toy gun, and would know not to handle a real gun. A study in 
the June 2001 issue of Pediatrics showed this to be false. 
The 2002 edition of Injury Facts from the U.S. National Safety Council reports 
that in 1999, there were 3,385 kids below the age of twenty who were killed with a gun. 
This includes homicides, suicides, and unintentional injuries. 
In the United States, programs have been developed to educate parents and 
children about gun safety due to the increasing number of injuries from guns. These 
include such programs as the Eddie Eagle gun safety program from the National Rifle 
1 


Association and the "Keep Your Family Safe from Firearm Injury" program of the 
American Academy of Pediatrics. 
Gun safety is 
a collection of rules and 
recommendations that can be applied when handling firearms. The purpose of gun safety 
is to eliminate or minimize the risks of unintentional death, injury or damage caused by 
improper storage and handling of firearms. It emphasizes the danger and possible serious 
consequences of playing with guns. 
The Philippines has no such gun safety program designed for children and their 
parents. Yet, we are confronted with regular reports of gun-related deaths in the country. 
In fact, in May 2009, Reuters reported that the Philippines had more gun-related deaths 
than any other country in Asia relative to its size. Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Rafal 
told reporters that about 70 percent of small arms are in the hands of civilians and that the 
number of small arms has grown about 10 percent since 2007, matched by an increase in 
gun-related v~olence in the country. 
These figures make it incumbent on us to treat this issue as an urgent public health 
matter. Consequently, this bill proposes a comprehensive program which shall include 
mandatory gun safety education for all students and their parents, in order to resolve and 
prevent the problems and dangers relating to the use of guns. Being safe can keep kids 
and even adults from getting hurt. All kids should know what to do if they find a gun or if 
they are with someone who finds a gun or what to do if a gun is fired by accident. 
It is imperative that we establish such programs if we want to save lives. l 
1 This bill was originally filed in during the Fourteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENA1!846 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A GUN 
SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM AND INCLUDE THIS IN THE CURRICULUM 
OF ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION l. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Gun Safety Education 
2 
Act." 
3 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
4 
A. "DepEd" means the Department of Education. 
5 
B. "Gun Safety Education Program" means an age-appropriate, research-based 
6 
program that educates children and their parents on how to prevent or respond to 
7 
problems or dangers related to firearms. 
8 
C. "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Education. 
9 
SECTION 3. Incorporation of a Gun Safety Education Program in the curriculum 
10 
of Public and Private Secondary Schools. - A program on Gun Safety Education shall be 
11 
incorporated in the cun'iculum of both public and private elementary and secondary 
12 
schools. In addition, to this, gun safety classes will be offered at times convenient to 
13 
parents, including evenings and weekends. 
14 
SECTION 4. Implementing Agency and its Duties. -
15 
A. The DepEd shall: 
1 


1 
(1) identify, develop, and implement gun safety education programs. 
2 
The DepEd shall consult with a certified firearms instructors, and research 
3 
on programs in other jurisdictions which have shown to be effective; 
4 
(2) develop online gun safety programs for children and their 
5 
parents; 
6 
(3) develop and implement public education campaigns to promote 
7 
awareness of online risks to children and Internet safety education; 
8 
B. The DepEd Secretary shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of 
9 
this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those of disciplinary nature, 
10 
to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. Further, the DepEd shall be the 
11 
lead agency in the carrying out the following: the Secretary is hereby authorized 
12 
and directed to adopt a system to implement and carry out the provisions of this 
13 
Act. 
14 
SECTION 5. Appropriation. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
15 
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
16 
Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of this program 
17 
shall be included in the annual appropriation of the DepEd. 
18 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
19 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
20 
provisions hereof. 
21 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
22 
portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
23 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
2 


1 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
2 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
Idpm9June20 15 
3