The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo adopted House Resolution 422 on Thursday, urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to integrate into the curriculum of the Enhanced Basic Education or K to 12 Program, a mental health awareness course in all public and private secondary high schools.
The resolution authored by Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr. also urges the DepEd to facilitate the implementation of Section 23 (Integration of Mental Health into the Educational System) and Section 24 (Mental Health Promotion in Educational Institution) of Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law. During the online meeting, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro cited the importance of mental health wellness among teachers and students. She cited problems such as the lack of guidance counsellors and the lack of mental health programs in some schools. Mark Bercando, Supervising Education Program Specialist of the DepEd Bureau of Curriculum Development, presented the agency’s initiatives on mental health awareness. Even before the pandemic, Bercando said the DepEd has already been implementing a homeroom guidance program, which is a special program for all learners from Kinder to Grade 12.
Meanwhile, the committee also approved the consolidation of HB 8689 with the Substitute Bill on the proposed “Public Emergency Blended and Flexible Act.” HB 8689, authored by Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor, seeks to institutionalize the alternative learning delivery modes in the K-12 Basic Education System. The committee also approved the consolidation of HB 8798 with other similar bills which were previously acted upon by the panel and given to a technical working group. Authored by Parañaque City Rep. Joy Tambunting, HB 8798 seeks to integrate voter’s education in the Junior and Senior High School curricula in both public and private schools.
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