House bill bats for inclusion of youth-oriented courses in elem, HS curriculum
Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Sunday, Oct. 30, proposed the inclusion of environmental protection, entrepreneurship, reproductive health and population control, and drug prevention in the curriculum of elementary and high school students to provide them knowledge and tools that will set a positive mindset.

Through House Bill (HB) No. 5202, or the “Responsible Youth Act", the lawmaker sought to integrate these early intervention programs and courses to “help prepare youth to reach intellectual and emotional maturity leading to a responsible and healthy life decisions".
“It is often said that youth is the hope of our country. Their passions, dreams, motivation and determination can make a difference in building a nation. However, youth of today faces many risks and challenges, including drug addiction, teenage pregnancy and lack of awareness on the pressing issue on global warming, among others,” Barbers explained.
“Thus, they need proper guidance and direction to ensure that they are still on the right path in becoming a responsible adult,” he added.
Barbers believes that these early intervention courses could have a “life-altering impact” on the youth’s life “away from problems and toward positive behaviors".
He underscored the role of the Department of Education (DepEd) in ensuring that the content of the course or the teaching modules are “age-appropriate", so they will produce positive results.
“Age-appropriate shall mean topics, messages and teaching methods that are suitable to particular age and developmental levels based on the cognitive, emotional, social and experience levels of most students at that level,” Barbers said.
Under the bill, DepEd shall provide measures and adopt additional changes or adjustment in the elementary and high school curriculum in order to integrate the environmental protection education, entrepreneurship education, reproductive health and population control education, and drug prevention education within six months from the approval of this proposed legislation.
It would also mandate the DepEd to provide free trainings to teachers and staff, with the training credited to their Continuing Professional Education (CPE) units required for professional license renewal.