FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
. .. 
Senate Bill No. 9 5 9  
I’ 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 6. Article II of the Constitution provides that “the State shall protect and 
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the 
rhythm and harmony of nature.” 
The duty imposed on the State is corollary to the people’s right to protection 
against the degradation of the country’s natural resources, and against any impairment 
of the ecological balance needed to maintain a healthful and sustainable environment 
for human existence and progress. The State’s duty is, however, a shared responsibility 
between government and the people. Consequently, all of us are responsible for the 
environmental degradation and destruction of the earth. 
The solution to this problem, therefore, must start with us through education. We 
ought to be educated on how to maintain a balanced and healthful ecology and to 
discontinue habits and practices that bring about disastrous consequences. Also, we 
must be informed of the remedial self-help measures that must be adopted in order to 
repair the damage we had inflected on mother nature of which we are a steward and a 
part. 
This bill, therefore seeks to educate and reform society by integrating in the 
curriculum of all educational institutions in the two (2) levels of instruction - Elementary 
and Secondary - a course on “The Philippine Society and the Environment” either as a 
separate subject or as a part of another relevant subject. 
For these reasons, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Senate Bill No. 'm 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT TO INTEGRATE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS 
PROGRAMS, A COURSE ON PHILIPPINE SOCIETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 
INCLUDING NON-FORMAL, INDIGENOUS LEARNING AND OUT-OF SCHOOL 
Be it enacfed by fhe Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Section 1. The teaching of the appreciation, conservation, rehabilitation and 
promotion of the environment shall be included in the curricula of all public and private 
elementary and secondary schools, including non-formal, indigenous learning and out- 
of -school program. 
Section 2. The environment shall refer to the bio-physical world of human 
beings, the maritime, fluvial, and aerial domains, the mineral, coal, petroleum oils, all 
forces of potential energy, fisheries, flora and fauna and all other natural resources. 
Section 3. There is hereby created a course with a proposed title "The Philippine 
Society and the Environment" which shall be added to the elementary and secondary 
school curriculum. In addition to the teaching of the appreciation, conservation, 
rehabilitation and promotion of environment, the course shall likewise include the 
teaching of environmental laws I the Philippines. 
Section 4. The Department of Education in coordination with the Department of 
Environment and Natural resources shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations and call upon the assistance of other government agencies, offices, entities 
and instrumentalities for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act. 
Section 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication on the 
official gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Congress assembled: 
Approved,