ANGELES CITY – In the wake of earthquakes that rocked the country in September and October, Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. filed on Oct. 16 House Bill No. 5605 seeking the inclusion of disaster preparedness and response subjects in the curricula of all public and private educational institutions for both elementary and high school levels.
“The Philippines, being in the Pacific Ring of Fire, is highly susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Aside from earthquakes, we also experience an average of 20 typhoons per year,” Lazatin noted.
“The integration of disaster preparedness and response as a subject in our school curriculum will empower our students by giving them the tools to face disaster situations and keep themselves as safe as possible until proper help arrives,” he added.
If passed, HB 5605 tasks the Department of Education, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Administration, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Department of the Social Welfare and Development to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations 180 days from the effectivity of the law.
On Oct. 13, Lazatin also filed House Resolution No. 368 requesting DepEd to postpone face-to-face classes and shift to alternative modes of learning, such as modules and online classes, for a period of at least two weeks in public and private schools nationwide to give time for the formulation of guidelines on disaster and emergency preparedness and response in schools.
“We need to have clear and specific guidelines on how the administration, school personnel, teachers, and students will act and respond during disasters and emergencies,” Lazatin said. Team Lazatin Media
