MANILA, Philippines -- Citing the rising incidents of crime, a lawmaker has filed a bill that would integrate self-defense in all physical education classes in high school to “help females protect themselves in the event of imminent danger.”

Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar filed House Bill 4775 or “An Act Strengthening the Rights of Filipino Women by Integrating the Teaching of Self-Defense and Providing for its Free Access to Female Constituents.”

The bill is aimed at providing “basic and non-complicated program of self-defense accessible to all.”

The bill mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) to integrate self-defense technics in all Physical Education programs across the country.

Outside schools, the bill will also help provide training to female employees, out-of-school females, as well as female migrates, Villar said.

“The pain, trauma, humiliation, and damage inflicted on the victims are irreversible. Teaching self-defense to females is based on the principle that self-defense is an instinct that needs to be developed,” she said.