A PROPOSED law that regulates the credit card industry and another that requires elementary and high school students to take basic life support training courses await President Aquino’s signature in his last four days in office.
The Philippine Credit Card Industry Regulation Act will place the credit card industry under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). It will prohibit card issuers and collection agents from harassing cardholders and engaging in unfair practices to collect credit card debt.
It will also require a credit card issuer to disclose to potential and current cardholders all the finance charges for late payments, and warns card companies against unauthorized release of their cardholders’ data.
Meanwhile, the Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act shall require all public and private schools to teach their students basic life support such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR in an age-appropriate manner.
Lessons to be taught include the Philippine Heart Association and Philippine Red Cross recognized and evidence-based guidelines for emergency cardiovascular care and psychomotor training. It will be part of schools’ health and physical education curriculum.
The Department of Health (DOH) shall accredit nongovernment organizations to provide basic life support instructions. School principals in coordination with the DOH will be responsible for providing competent instructors, according to the bill.
The House approved its version of the measure as House Bill No. 6204 on Dec. 15. The Senate passed the similar Senate Bill No. 3204 on May 23.