Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by Rep. Claudine Diana n. gautista-Lim
AN ACT
INTEGRATING A COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER SKILLS EDUCATION
PROGRAM IN THE K TO 12 CURRICULUM
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippinesl is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. Having been
geographically situated along the boundary of major tectonic plates and at the center of a
typhoon belt, its islands are regularly impacted by floods, typhoons, landslides, earthquakes,
volcanoes, and droughts.
In comparison, we have developed robust coping mechanisms over thek long history of
experience with disasters. Yet, significant gaps in disaster management capacities across
different regions remain prevalent. While many policy proposals have already been docketed
in the legislative miil, the preparedness level of our people is best secured if we focus on
educating them.
We must ensure that we give our people the proper education, skills, and training to deal with
the various calamities that continually devastate our lands. Moreover, we must provide these
life skills to our people at the earliest possibie opportunity to allow them to deal with these
disasters. The best time to teach our citizens to deal with natural disasters is to train them during
their primary schooling until they graduate from their secondary education. Hence, the State
must mandate all private and public schools to include a comprehensive program that will teach
students how to prepare, deal with, and adapt to the various natural disa-sters in our country.
Although some programs and specific months or days teach about diflerent disasters, such as
fire, flood, and earthquakes, it is insuffisient to provide the necessary skills to deal with the
ever-increasing frequency and severity of calamities. With comprehensive skills that allow us
to prepare for, survive, and deal with the aftermath of these disasters, we can save our citizens'
lives, properties, and future. We have a duty to the generations yet to come to act immediately
on this matter. We must work now. In view thereof the immediate approval of this bill i;
respectfu lly requested.
H
CLAIIDINE DIANA D. BAUTISTA.LIM
1 The Philippiues also ranks among the top couotries in the world for population expo$rxe and rulnerability to hazards.
September 13, 2022
2:10 pm
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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
Nineteenth Congress
fipst Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO.
AI{ ACT
INTEGRATING A COMPREHENSIYE DISASTER SKILLS EDUCATION
PROGRAM IN TI{E K TO 12 CURRICULUM
Be it enacted by tlte Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION t. Short Title.' This Act shall be known as the "Disaster Skills Program
Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. * It is the policy of the State to ensure the safety and
security of the lives and properties of ils citizens during the increasing frequency and severity
of natural disasters occurring in the Philippines by providing its citizens wifi proper education,
skills, and training. Therefore, this will ensure that they af,e prepared and abl" to survive the
aftermath of the violent acts of nature.
SEC. 3. Disaster Skills Education. - The program will include a comprehensive
module system that will teach disaster preparedness, assembly of disaster kits, frrst aid and
survival skills, adapting to limited resources, dealing with the aftermath of the disasters, and
other essential skills, which are hereby required to be part of the curriculum for the K to 12
Program.
SEC. 4.Integration into the Curriculum. - Basic survival and preparedness education
shall be made part of the elementary education, while more advanced skills shall be included
in the junior and senior high school curricula.
SEC. 5. Teaching Modules. - The scope of the teaching modules for each grade level
shall be identified by the Deparknent of Education (DepEd) in collaboration with the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Department ofthe Interior
and Local Government (DILG), taking into consideration the age, level of comprehension, and
particular needs of the specific regions of the students.
SEC. 6. Educational Materials. .- Private and public elementary and secondary schools
shall keep in their libraries an adequate number of textbooks, primers, charts, and leaflets on
disaster preparedness, survival skills, coping with the aftermath, and other related materials, as
prepared and required by the DepEd.
SEC. 7. Funding Source. - To carry out the purposes of this Act, the funding shall be
sourced from the allocation for the DepEd as provided in the General Appropriations Act.
Thereafter, the annual expenditures shali be provided in the allocation for tlie DepEd as stated
in the General Appropriations Act.
Rep. Claudine Iliana D. Bautista-Lim
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SEC.8, Implementation. * Within ninef (90) days aftsr the implementation of this
Act, the DepEd, in coordination with the NDRRMC and DILG, shall promulgate the nece.s$ary
rules and regulations to govem the effective implementation of this Act.
. fEC:9. SyParability Claase. - If any provisioa is held invalid or unconstitutional, the
remainder of the law orprovision not othenvise affested shall remain valid and subsisting.
SEC. lA, Repeating Clouse. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, leuer of insfuction, administrative order, rule, or regulation conha4r to or inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, motlified, or amended accordingly.
qEq. fi- Wctivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the fficial Gozette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,