DAHIL madalas na apektado ng iba’t ibang kalamidad ang Filipinas, iginiit ni Manila Teachers Partylist Rep. Virgilio Lacson ang pangangailangan na matuto ang mga estudyante ng basic first aid at survival skills.

Sa pagsusulong ng House Bill 8245, sinabi ni Lacson na dapat ding ihanda ang kabataan sa bawat kalamidad na pumapasok sa bansa.

“The Philippines is one of the most heavily affected countries in terms of natural calamities. Being located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and along the typhoon belt, the country regularly experiences earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons, landslides, among others. These disasters do not only cause damage in agriculture, economy, and infrastructure, but also claim countless Filipino lives,” pahayag ni Lacson sa kanyang explanatory note.

Ipinaalala pa ng kongresista sa kanyang panukala na noong Nobyembre 12 ay muling nasalanta ang Filipinas ng kalamidad sa pagpasok ng bagyong Ulysses.

“Too many lives have already been lost because of these natural calamities. And while accidents are inevitable during these times, with proper awareness and preparation, we can mitigate the effects,” dagdag pa ni Lacson.

Batay sa panukala, oobligahin ang lahat ng learning institutions, kabilang ang mga paaralan, kolehiyo, unibersidad, at vocational learning institutions na isama sa kanilang curricula ang first aid training at survival skills training.

Mandato naman ng Commission on Higher Education at Department of Education, katuwang ang Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government at National Diasater Risk Reduction and Management Council, na bumuo ng implementing rules and regulations.

Kung maisabatas, ang pondong kailangan ay magmumula sa budget ng CHED at DepEd sa  ilalim ng General Appropriations Act.