MANILA — To promote humanitarian values, volunteerism and culture of safety and health, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) signed on Monday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) mandating the establishment of Red Cross Councils nationwide.
During the MOA signing at the DepEd central office in Pasig City, CHED officer-in-charge Prospero de Vera III said the initiative coincides with the return service system or a feature included in Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
“We’ve placed a provision in the implementing rules and regulations of RA 10931 where state and local universities and colleges (SUCs) are to craft a return service system for the students receiving free tuition. They give back to the community, helping the community, helping their school through volunteerism like this,” he said.
De Vera said the involvement of the PRC in the promotion of volunteerism could enhance the development of the return service system options in SUCs and local universities and colleges (LUCs).
“All the SUCs and LUCs are crafting the system. We’re putting a number of hours the students have to comply with every year in return for government subsidy. The PRC will provide a rich network and rich menu of options that students can avail,” he said.
De Vera said PRC’s initiative is the “best argument against the criticisms of some people who see return service system as means for CHED to make students suffer or to promote student labor in universities and colleges.”
“For who can argue if the students learn life-saving techniques while they’re in the university or learn to prepare for disasters. This is the best argument against those who are saying that we’re unduly increasing work for students while they’re studying,” he added.
The MOA between DepEd and PRC mandates the training of teachers and students on basic life support and first aid in very school.
It promotes the review of guidelines and activities governing the Red Cross Youth Councils nationwide to ensure they are aligned with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Education in Emergencies efforts of DepEd.
It also includes the integration of volunteerism, humanitarian values, DRMM, CCA, health, basic first aid, and basic life support concepts in the curriculum while PRC provides technical assistance in any life-saving or related activities done by DepEd.
The MOA between CHED and PRC mandates the establishment of Red Cross 143 teams in higher education institutions and partnership on community development and extension programs.
While it promotes training and acquisition of Red Cross certification for disaster preparation, basic first aid and basic life support, it encourages voluntary enrollment of students, faculty and non-teaching personnel in PRC and accident assistance benefit program.