ILOCOS Sur 1st District Rep. Deogracias Victor Savellano wants scouting as a core academic subject.

He filed a measure integrating scouting in the course study.

In pushing for House Bill 4433 or the proposed Scouting Act, Savellano stressed that scouting is recognized as the symbol of reliability and discipline.

“Scouts around the world became more involved with issues such as child health, low-cost housing, literacy, food production and agriculture, job skills training. In developing countries such as the Philippines, drug abuse prevention, life skills traning, and environmental education are of prime concerns to local scouts,” the lawmaker said in his explanatory note.

In line with the development plan of the government particularly eradication of the drug problem, he said that the compulsory incorporation of scouting as a Youth Program in the curriculum will certainly boost support aid in the accomplishment of such development plan.

House Bill 4433 mandates the establishment of implementing rules and regulations to integrate scouting program in the course of study among educational institutions.

The measure also states the establishment of government agencies in charge of enforcing pertinent laws, rules, and regulations.

Once enacted into law, the Department of Education shall include in its annual budget a fund dedicated to cover the expenses incurred by the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in training scouts and improving their scouting program.