Lawmaker Proposes to Include Swimming Subject in K-12 Program
DROWNING PREVENTION ACT – A lawmaker is advocating for swimming to be incorporated as a subject in the K-12 curriculum.
Honorable Rudys Caesar Fariñas, the representative of Probinsyano Ako Party-list, introduced House Bill 7476, also known as the “Drowning Prevention Act,” with the objective of reducing incidents of drowning and fatalities during natural calamities or recreational aquatic activities.
Under Fariñas’ proposal, once the bill becomes law, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) will be tasked with formulating guidelines for the inclusion of swimming as a subject in schools.
Local Government Units (LGUs) will play a pivotal role in identifying suitable locations where the subject can be taught, with particular focus on high-risk areas. Moreover, LGUs will also be responsible for organizing training programs on first aid and basic life support seminars to equip students with drowning prevention skills.
In addition, the NDRRMC will be mandated to develop a comprehensive Drowning Prevention Plan that will serve as a framework for both private and public elementary and secondary schools.
This plan will provide guidance on curriculum development, training protocols, and safety measures to ensure effective implementation of swimming as a subject in the K-12 program.
Supporters of the bill emphasize that teaching swimming as a subject can significantly contribute to reducing drowning incidents, especially in a country prone to natural disasters.
By equipping students with water safety skills and knowledge, it is hoped that the proposed inclusion of swimming in the K-12 curriculum can promote drowning prevention and save lives.
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