HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND LIFE SKILLS (HEALS) ACT 0F 2014

AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECONDARY

SCHOOLS A COURSE WITH LESSONS ABOUT HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER
LIFE SKILLS, AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
TO DEVELOP SUCH, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it here enacted by the House of Representatives:

Preamble

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 12 of the 1987 constitution states that “The State recognizes the
sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social
institution.”

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 constitution states that “The State shall protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 constitution states 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.”

WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10533 states that “The State shall establish, maintain
and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of
the people, the country and society-at-large”

WHEREAS, Section 14 of Republic Act No 10354 states that, “The State shall provide age- and
development-appropriate reproductive health education to adolescents”

WHEREAS, the State has not fully maximized the potential of the basic education system to
mold citizens who are prepared to build a family, who are conscious about their health and who
are aware of the different environmental issues such as climate change.

WHEREAS, the Department of Education has not yet fulfilled its mandate of developing an age-
appropriate reproductive health education.

WHEREAS, today is a great time of developing our basic education system as we move from a
ten-year basic education system towards having a twelve-year basic education system. Now,
therefore

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Health, Environment and Life Skills
Act or HEALS Act of 2014”
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - The State recognizes education as a key in preparing the
individual towards becoming a part of a more productive and learned Filipino society. It shall
also recognize the following potentials of education and maximize these potentials through this
act. Education as a tool towards:

a.) developing individuals who are more prepared in raising a family especially in this age of
technology by cultivating their parenting skills

b.) relaying information about health including but not limited to common diseases and their
signs and symptoms, the proper usage and side-effects of over the counter drugs, prevention
and mitigation of diseases, reproductive health and sexuality, basic life skills and first aid.

c.) recognizing climate change as an urgent issue which affects the frequency and severity of
disasters in the country and creating a more responsible and Earth-friendly society

d.) giving people knowledge and training them with skills that are practical and useful in entering
society.

e.) correcting people’s misconception about several issues related to health, environment and
practical life skills such as considering homosexuality as a disease, believing that climate
change is not true, etc.

SECTION 3. Curriculum Development - In order to maximize the above-mentioned potentials, a

Commission on Health, Environment and Life Skills Course chaired by the Department of
Education will be formed to develop a health, environment and life skills course. The said
commission will include members from the Department of Health, Department of Environment
and Natural Resources and other institutions deemed necessary by the chair. The said
commission shall consult the Professional Regulatory Commission, the Philippine Medical
Association, the Philippine Nurses Association, the Philippine Dental Association, the Philippine
Pharmacists Association, Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine, Philippine Physical
Therapy Association, Occupational Therapy Association of the Philippines and other related
institutions such that the lessons included in the course will not impair the working environments
of the professions they represent but rather supplement the development of the society.

To facilitate the teaching of comprehensive lessons during the school year, there shall be four
(4) categories that will cover the range of topics included in the curriculum, namely: Personal
Health, Community Health, Environment, and Life Skills. The said categories correspond to the
four quarters (4) of the school year respectively. Suggested topics for each category include, but
are not limited to the following:

a. Personal Health - this category shall focus on emergency medical treatment, nutrition and
fitness.
1. proper nutrition, wellness and fitness
 2. proper hygiene, sanitation and good behavior
3. recognizing common diseases, its symptoms, prevention and management
4. over the counter drugs, how to use them and their side effects
5. substance use and abuse
6. consumer health
7. self-examinations

b. Community Health It shall focus on disease outbreaks, disease prevention and control, and
the health system of the country
1. right to health care services
2. recognition of the different health workers and their role in the health service
3. how to use the National Health Insurance System (PhilHealth) and the national health
system (the difference of a barangay health center and a tertiary hospital)
4. the importance of organ and blood donation
5. disease prevention and control in the community
6. the importance of vaccination
7. the proper use of antibiotics and the emergence of drug-resistant microorganisms
8. first aid and basic life support
9. what to do during emergency health situations
10. disability awareness and rights of PWDs
11. road safety and other hazards and their safety measures

c. Environment - this category shall focus on ecology, climate change, and disaster
management.
1. climate change and its effects in society
2. the importance of taking care of the environment
3. introduction to ecology
4. introduction to other branches of earth sciences such as geology, meteorology and
volcanology
5. disaster risk reduction and management and the role of local institutions
6. importance of community-based disaster risk reduction and management
7. response and recovery during disasters
8. what are the different disasters and their causes
9. interrelation of disaster risk reduction, ecology, and climate change

d. Life Skills - this category shall focus on parenthood, family life, gender and sexuality.
1. knowledge and skills in self-protection against discrimination (both to race, gender,
disability etc.) abuse and violence.
2. women’s rights and children’s rights
3. responsible teenage behavior; gender and development
4. physical, social and emotional changes in adolescents
5. responsible parenthood and the dimensions of family life
6. sexually-transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS
SECTION 4. Course Implementation - The course shall be a graded subject during the six years
of high school where it will be allotted at least one hour per week. A general evaluation of the
course will be done every two years within a period of five years to further enhance the course
modules and its implementation. Additional topics may be recommended during these
evaluations. The functions of the commission will then be absorbed by the Department of
Education after the second evaluation of the course.

SECTION 5. Academic Personnel - Due to the lack of academic personnel specializing on the
instruction of these topics, the different licensed professionals related to health such as nurses
and pharmacists can be hired by all public and private schools to become instructors of the said
course, without the need of taking the Licensure Exam for Teachers. The various graduates of
courses and holders of certificates related to health and natural sciences can also be hired to
supplement the number of instructors of the said course, provided that they will be eligible and
will pass the Licensure Exam for Teachers within two years of their employment.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations and Module Development – The Commission
on Health, Environment and Life Skills Course shall be formed within ninety (90) days after the
approval of this act. It shall convene different teachers, health workers and other associated
professionals and/or individuals immediately following the break of the academic year of the
approval of this act. The course shall then be included in the general curriculum not later than
the second academic year after this break.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause – If any part, section or provision of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, no other parts, sections or provisions hereof shall be affected thereby.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Proposed by:

Main Sponsor:
Madison M. Dominguez, Pampanga

Co-Sponsors:
Dannah Louise Bonifacio, Nueva Ecija
Ellen Joyce Bustillo, Metro Manila
Psalm Chan, Iloilo
Racquel Gertrude Correa, Quezon City
Erica P. Ersando, Cavite
Joel Lara, Bulacan
John Vincent Mascarinas, Cebu
Diana Dalisay A. Orolfo, Laguna
Arman N. Pili, Quezon City
Kim Philip Salazar, Pasay City
Racquel Gertrude Correa, Quezon City

BRIEFER AND ABSTRACT

The information dissemination systems of the Department of Health and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources as well as other departments of the government are highly
in need of improvement. It is the nature of this bill to use education specifically in the secondary
level where we will start implementing the course, Health, Environment and Life Skills (HEALS),
to relay important information to the public. This would supplement the different public health
campaigns of the government and foster increased health consciousness, gender-sensitivity
and environmental consciousness for a more informed Filipino society.

This bill will create a commission chaired by the Department of Education and membered by
other departments, notably the Department of Health, to develop the curriculum for the said
course. Consultations with different professional associations will also be required to avoid
untoward consequences to the professional’s working environment.

To facilitate the teaching of the said curriculum, the different licensed professionals and the
graduates of different natural sciences will supplement the academic personnel of the different
schools to provide a more comprehensive discussion of topics based on their specialization. We
do hope that this bill would greatly improve our society and its outlook on health and the
environment.