Bill seeks to include swimming in basic K-12 curriculum

Iligan City lone district Rep. Frederick Siao recently released a press statement regarding HB 3495, or the Drowning Prevention Act, which requires children take swimming lessons.

“Drowning is a leading cause of death among children and teens, especially during summer,” he explained in a press statement.

The bill would require the Department of Education to include swimming lessons in basic K-12 education by adding as part of MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health) curriculum.

If signed into law, localities would be responsible for creating a “community action plan,” which would include first aid training, basic life support, training, and seminars on drowning prevention.

“In every barangay, there should be a team of tanods trained on drowning rescue and first aid,” the congressman noted.

The bill also emphasized the importance of lifeguards.

“Unfortunately, most pools and beaches do not have trained lifeguards,” Siao pointed out.

Last year, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) inspected various beach resorts across Negros Occidental to ensure lifeguards were on duty at all times.

According to then-PCG-Bacolod station commander, Lieutenant Senior Grade Jimmy Oliver Vingno, most resorts were fully compliant with PCG safety standards.

Around the same time, the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) also conducted inspections of resorts in the city.

CDRRMO head Dondon Parandas said, based on their inspections, most beach resorts in the city had lifeguards on duty./WDJ