Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBillNo.        9956
RATEEEBJLL202ln
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVH JOSE "B0NG" J. TEVES, JR.
AN ACT INCLUDING DISASTER pREPARnDNESS AND RESpoNSE SuB]ECT AS
PART 0F THE CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The  Philippines,  being  inside  the  Pacific  RIng  of Fire,  is  prone  to  several  volcanic
eruptions and earthquakes.  In fact,  according to the Philippine Institute of Vulcanology  and
Seismology  or PHIVOLCS,  the Philippines  experiences  an  estimate  of one  hundred  to one
hundred fifty  earthquakes annually with a magnitude  of 4.0  and  above.I  On November  17,
2023,  Sarangani, Davao Occidental was hit by a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake, leaving
eleven persons dead and seven hundred thirty individuals injured.2 0n December 2,  2023,  a
powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Surigao del Sur according to PHIVOLCS.3 According
to Defense  Secretary  Gilberto Teodoro,  over five hundred (500) families  or more than two-
thousand five hundred persons have been affected by the quake.
Aside from volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, the Philippines is also a typhoon-prone
country,  experiencing  an  average  of twenty  typhoons  per  year.  In  2013,  the  country  was
devastated by the super typhoon Yolanda which left at least six thousand (6,000) dead.  And
the most recent destructive typhoons that entered the Philippines were typhoons Rolly in 2020
Lhttps://newsinfo.inquirer,net/1635871/list-killer-earthquakes-in-the-philippines
2https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1863570/death-toll-in-davao-occidental-quake-reaches-11
3https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/12/04/2316295/magnitude-74-quake-rocks-surigao-del-sur-1-
dead


and Paeng in 2022 which left twenty-two (22) and one hundred sixty (160) deaths respectively.
In addition, the country also experiences heavy rains brought by southwest monsoon.   These
natural  occurrences  cause  substantial  flooding    which  affect  the  livelihood  of our  fellow
Filipinos.  According to  Statista,  an estimate of sixty billion  pesos worth of damages  due to
storms and other natural disasters were recorded in 2021  alone.4
Since  these  natural  disasters  are  inevitable,  it  is  only  proper  that  the  government
prepare our  citizens by  educating them  the  correct  and  appropriate  emergency  and  disaster
preparedness and response in order to minimize civilian casualty. It is also enshrined in Section
2(1),  Article XIV of the  1987 Constitution which states "The  State shall  establish,  maintain,
and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of
the people and society;"
This  measure will  amend the  existing  provisions  of Republic  Act No.  10121  or the
Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 and strengthen its disaster
preparedness education provisions by providing mandatory disaster preparedness subj ect in the
high school level.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly
HON. JOSE „
TEVES, JR.
Deputy Maj ority Leader
Representative, TGP Party-List
4https://www.statista.com/topics/5845/natural-disasters-in-the-philippines-at-a-glance/#topicoverview


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINHTEENTII CONGRHSS
Second Regular Session
HouseBillNo.      9956
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSE ``B0NG" J. TEVES, JR.
AN ACT INCLUDING DISASTHR PRHPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE SURECT AS
PART OF THE CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATH HIGH SCHOOLS
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 "Disaster Preparedness and
Response Education Act."
SECTION 2. Incorporation of Disaster Preparedness and Response Subject. -All
public and private educational institutions shall adopt and include into their respective curricula
the mandatory subject Disaster Preparedness and Response in high school level.
SECTION 3. Implementing Rules and Regulation. - The Department of Education
(DepEd), in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and shall, within one hundred eighty (180) days
from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations
relative to the implementation of this Act.


SHCTI0N 4.  Separability clause.  - If any provision of this Act shall be declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such declaration shall not invalidate other parts thereof which shall
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION  5.  Amendatory  and  Repealing  clause.  -  AIl  laws,  executive  orders,
presidential  decrees  or  issuances,   letters  of  instruction,   administrative  orders,   rules,  and
regulations  contrary  to  or inconsistent with the  provisions  of this  Act  are hereby  repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly.
SECTION 6. Effectivity clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,