Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act

July 17, 2016 *

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10871

AN ACT REQUIRING BASIC EDUCATION STUDENTS TO UNDERGO AGE-APPROPRIATE BASIC LIFE SUPPORT TRAINING

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — Pursuant to Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.

Pursuant thereto, the State shall ensure that able-bodied citizens are equipped with the necessary knowledge and basic skills to respond to certain health emergencies.

SECTION 3. Basic Life Support for Basic Education Students. — It shall be the duty of all public and private basic education schools operating nationwide to provide their students with basic life support training through the use of psychomotor training in an age-appropriate manner. The instruction shall include programs which have been developed by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) or Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) using nationally-recognized, evidence-based guidelines for emergency cardiovascular care, and psychomotor training, to support the instruction. As far as practicable, basic education schools shall incorporate basic life support training as part of the schools' comprehensive health and physical education curriculum.

As used in this Act, psychomotor training refers to hands-on practice to support cognitive learning.

SECTION 4. Certification for Training. — All successful student-trainees shall be certified to have undergone the training required by a competent school authority.

SECTION 5. Training Providers. — The school principal or administrator shall coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) for its assistance in providing competent instructors for the school's basic life support education training program. The DOH shall accredit nongovernment organizations (NGOs) competent to provide basic life support instructions. CAIHTE

SECTION 6. Exceptions. — Students suffering from any physical or mental disability which may render them unable to perform a basic life support procedure are exempted from going through the basic life support training program.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the Department of the implementing agencies. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Health, shall formulate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act. The implementing rules and regulations issued pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in a national newspaper of general circulation.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved:

* Lapsed into law on July 17, 2016 without the signature of the President in accordance with Article VI, Section 27 (1) of the Constitution.