Republic Act
Approved July 17, 2016

Republic Act No. 10871

Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act

Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act

In plain language

An act that mandates basic life support training for all elementary and secondary students in the Philippines, outlining responsibilities of schools, certification, training providers, and implementation details.

  • Mandates basic life support training in all public and private schools.
  • Requires certification of student trainees upon completion.
  • Designates the Department of Health to coordinate and accredit NGOs for instruction.
  • Provides exemption for students with physical or mental disabilities.
  • Allocates appropriations from current year and future General Appropriations Acts.
  • Establishes a 90‑day period for the Secretary of Education to formulate implementing rules and regulations.
Health Education
Life Support
Public School
Philippines
RA 10871

Sixteenth Congress Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of July, two thousand fifteen.

REPUBLIC ACT No. 10871

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 23, 2015 and May 23, 2016, respectively.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

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 schools basic life support education training program. The DOH shall accredit nongovernment organizations (NGOs) competent to provide basic life support instructions.

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 years 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,

FRANKLIN M. DRILON President of the Senate

FELICIANO BELMONTE, JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives

Senate Bill No. 3204, which was approved by the Senate on May 23, 2016, was adopted as an amendment to House Bill No. 6204 by the House of Representatives on May 23, 2016.

OSCAR G. YABES Secretary of the Senate

MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: July 17, 2016

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO, III President of the Philippines

For information and research only, and not legal advice. This text may not reflect later amendments. For certified copies, refer to the Official Gazette or the issuing agency.