NUEVA Vizcaya Rep.  Luisa Lloren Cuaresma pushed a measure mandating the inclusion of disaster preparedness and management subject in the Junior High School curriculum.

House Bill 6713 seeks to include Disaster Preparedness and Management in the curriculum to be taught one hour five days a week.

Under the bill, teachers with the necessary background, trainings, skills and education in disaster and risk preparation and management shall enjoy preference in teaching the subject.

Cuaresma said that a disaster is a serious disruption that causes widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss.

“Disasters strike everywhere, every season, and on different scales throughout the year. They affect millions of people each year on a personal, business, local community or national level,” she said in her explanatory note.

The lawmaker added that special challenges affect children during emergency and they are often left at the mercy of strangers since they lack the necessary knowledge to address these situations.

“It is therefore important to educate the youth in disaster preparation and management well in advance of an emergency situation. In doing so, they will be better equipped to respond appropriately and calmly when confronted with an actual event,” Cuaresma said.