SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara filed a measure that seeks the inclusion of pandemics, epidemics and other health crises as part of the curriculum in primary and secondary schools.

Under Senate Bill 918, students will learn about pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises and how to cope with its effects and appropriate preparedness and mitigation strategies to combat the same.

The measure mandates the Department of Education to consult with the Department of Health, the National Disaster and Risk Management Council and other relevant public or private institutions in crafting the age and level-appropriate curriculum.

The DepEd will adopt the necessary rules and regulations to implement the measure.

Angara said that the pandemic revealed the major gaps in the country’s preparedness.

“Along with the country’s initiatives to continuously curb the effects of Covid19, both to our economy and our health system, there must also be efforts to educate the Filipino youth on public health crises and the proper interventions to mitigate their effects,” he said in his explanatory note.