Learning to swim in the Philippines

The World Health Organization recommends teaching basic swimming and water safety skills to children aged 6 and older, and in the Philippines you can start with the Philippine Red Cross, the Philippine Life Saving Society or a qualified private instructor. Learning to swim lowers risk but does not "drown-proof" anyone, so it works best alongside supervision, life jackets and first-aid training.

This guide is general information, not a substitute for training. In an emergency, call 911.

Why learn to swim in the Philippines?

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,641 islands according to the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), as reported by WorldAtlas (2018), so water is rarely far away. A Safe Kids Philippines, Philippine Life Saving Society and Department of Health study of child drowning, reported in 2009, found that open water such as seas, lakes, rivers and creeks accounted for 77 percent of cases in its community surveys in Los Baños and Iligan City (ILSF-hosted report of the study, 2009).

More recent Philippine research on child drowning lists inability to swim among the risk factors, alongside lack of supervision and unrestricted access to water. That study estimated 27,928 child (0 to 14) drowning deaths from 2008 to 2017 (Guevarra et al., Children, 2021).

Swimming skills also matter in floods. In October 2019 Dr John Juliard Go of WHO-Philippines said knowing how to swim is a major factor during typhoon-caused floods (GMA News, 23 October 2019). For the full picture of who drowns and where, see Drowning in the Philippines: the numbers.

What age should children start swim lessons?

Two respected sources give two different starting points, because they answer different questions.

• WHO (2021): the guideline issues strong recommendations in favour of both day-care for children under 6 and basic swimming and water safety training for children aged 6 and older (WHO guideline, 23 July 2021). WHO's drowning fact sheet adds that teaching school-age children basic swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills should sit within risk management that includes a safety-tested curriculum, a safe training area, screening and student selection, and student-instructor ratios set for safety (WHO fact sheet, 1 May 2026 version).
• American Academy of Pediatrics (2026): swim lessons can be introduced after a child turns 1, as one of multiple layers of prevention alongside close, constant, attentive and capable adult supervision. The AAP also states there is no evidence that infant swim lessons reduce the incidence of drowning (AAP news release on its policy statement "Prevention of Drowning", Pediatrics, pre-published 18 May 2026, slated for the July 2026 issue: AAP, 2026). This is United States guidance for a country with many backyard pools, so use it as a reference, not a Philippine rule.

Both sources describe lessons as one layer of protection, not a cure. WHO's 2022 practical guidance on running these programmes advises that children be screened for underlying health conditions and that instructor-participant ratios should not exceed 1:5 (WHO, Preventing drowning: practical guidance, 2022; we read a copy of the guidance, and the page we link is WHO's own listing of it).

Whatever the age, a child who is learning still needs an adult within arm's reach. More in Kids and water safety.

Where can you learn to swim in the Philippines?

We list only organisations whose own websites we could check. We do not list private academies, because we could not verify them. Always ask for the current schedule, the instructor's credentials and the lesson ratio.

Philippine Red Cross (PRC). The PRC lists "Water Safety Programs" described as water-based life-saving training for all ages and for water-safety professionals: Learn to Swim, Basic Water Safety and Rescue, Lifeguarding and Swift Water Rescue (Philippine Red Cross, Trainings; see also its Safety Service page). Neither page gives schedules, ages or requirements for these programmes, so use the PRC's contact page or head office (37 EDSA corner Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City) to ask about current offerings near you.

Philippine Life Saving Society (PLS). The society (called Philippine Life Saving, or PLS, on its own site) lists a Swim and Survive course (SAS) for ages 5 to 14, taught in pools by certified SAS instructors, and a Special Swim and Survive course (SSAS) for ages 15 to 35 aimed at people who want to teach or coach. The page says SAS is a programme of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia endorsed to PLS, and covers safe water entries and exits, body orientation, basic rescue and survival skills and swimming technique (PLS, Lifesaver/Lifeguard Education & Training). The page does not state course length or where classes run, so contact PLS through its contact page; its lifesaving centres page shows maps for Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Schools. There is no national requirement that schools teach swimming (see below). In 2019 a DepEd spokesperson said swimming could be offered as an optional subject, with private schools having more flexibility (GMA News, 23 October 2019). Ask your child's school directly.

Local government and community programmes. Ask your city or municipal office whether it runs water safety or swimming sessions. We have not verified any specific programme, so we name none.

Private instructors and swim schools. Many exist. Before enrolling, ask about instructor certification (for example a Red Cross or PLS qualification), the number of learners per instructor (WHO's guidance sets a maximum of 1:5 for school-age children), who is supervising the pool edge, and whether the pool has a trained lifeguard.

Survival swimming or swimming strokes?

Survival swimming means the skills that keep you alive. The Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth describes survival swimming as teaching basic skills for surviving an unexpected fall into water: floating, treading water, propelling yourself through the water and using buoyancy aids. It says survival swimming is not meant to replace traditional swimming lessons (RLSS Commonwealth, Survival Swimming). WHO's 2022 practical guidance likewise says training for school-age children should focus on basic water survival skills such as breathing, floating and moving forward above developing skilful swimming strokes (WHO, 2022).

For a beginner, that suggests asking a school whether it teaches floating, treading water and getting out of the water before it teaches strokes. A good learner can then add strokes for fitness and open-water confidence (see Open-water swimming safety guide).

Can adults learn to swim?

Yes. The PRC lists its water safety programmes for all ages (Philippine Red Cross, Trainings), and the PLS course list includes pool-based swimming and lifesaving courses such as its Swimming and Pool Lifesaving Course (PLS e-learning course list). Adult learners often feel embarrassed, which keeps them away from lessons. These are our editorial suggestions, not requirements from a source:

• Ask for adult-only or small-group classes, and for shallow-water starts.
• Mention any medical conditions to the instructor before you start. (WHO's guidance asks for health screening of child learners; for adults, ask the provider what it requires.)
• Practise floating first. It builds confidence and is the most useful skill if you ever get into trouble.
• Keep going until you can float, tread water and swim a short distance without a flotation aid, then try open water only with a buddy or lifeguard.

Is swimming part of the school curriculum?

We found no national requirement. In 2019 DepEd described swimming as an optional offering rather than a required subject, and a bill to make it mandatory has been filed more than once without becoming law (sources below). We did not find a DepEd curriculum guide that adds swimming as a subject.

• Proposals. GMA News reported in 2019 that a bill to make swimming a mandatory K-12 subject, filed in 2016, did not pass (GMA News, 2019). A Radyo Inquirer report in 2019 identified this as House Bill 3495, the "Drowning Prevention Act" of Rep. Frederick Siao (Radyo Inquirer, as shown in search results; the page itself was blocked to us). Senator Sonny Angara filed Senate Resolution No. 204 in the 18th Congress, urging DepEd to consider adding swimming to the curriculum; the Senate record lists it as referred to a committee (Senate record). In 2023 Rep. Rudys Caesar Fariñas filed House Bill 7476, also called the Drowning Prevention Act, to add swimming to the K-12 curriculum (Manila Times, 12 April 2023). Those reports describe the filings only; none shows a bill becoming law. We did not find a swimming bill in the 20th Congress, but our search was limited, so check the Senate and House legislative sites for the latest.
• WHO. In October 2019 WHO-Philippines recommended including swimming and basic life-saving in the K-12 curriculum, as one of 10 recommendations (GMA News, 23 October 2019).
• DepEd's position. In 2019 DepEd spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla said swimming could be offered as an optional subject decided by each school, and Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio called a mandatory subject "ideal but unrealistic" because not all schools have swimming facilities (GMA News, 23 October 2019). We found no later DepEd statement changing this.
• The drowning prevention plan. The Philippine Drowning Prevention Plan 2021-2025, released by the Philippine Drowning Prevention Council, lists firming up the integration of the Swim and Survive programme into the K to 12 programme as an action priority (plan PDF). It is a recommendation from the council, not a DepEd policy.
• "Swim and Survive". Swim and Survive is a PLS course name (see above). We found no DepEd programme with that name.

Learning to swim is one layer, not the whole answer

Swimming ability does not replace:

• constant adult supervision of young children;
• life jackets for non-swimmers, boat passengers and anyone in rough water;
• knowing the local hazards, such as rip currents and river flows;
• first-aid and CPR training.

In a 2011 report, the Department of Health recommended close child supervision, flotation devices, water safety awareness activities and training in first aid, basic life support and basic survival swimming for children and adults. These were part of a draft National Framework of Action on Drowning Prevention 2011-2015 that was still under policy review at the time (Vera Files, 15 December 2011). We could not find a current DOH text, so treat it as DOH advice from 2011. Read How to prevent drowning and Lifeguards and water safety organisations in the Philippines. For children who are still learning, a properly fitted flotation aid can add comfort at the pool edge, but never replaces supervision. See our Kids collection.

Sources

1. World Health Organization. Guideline on the prevention of drowning through provision of day-care and basic swimming and water safety skills, 23 July 2021. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240030008
2. World Health Organization. Preventing drowning: practical guidance for the provision of day-care, basic swimming and water safety skills, and safe rescue and resuscitation training, 23 May 2022. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240046726
3. World Health Organization. Drowning fact sheet (version dated 1 May 2026). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drowning
4. American Academy of Pediatrics. News release on the policy statement "Prevention of Drowning", Pediatrics, 18 May 2026. https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2026/american-academy-of-pediatrics-updates-recommendations-on-drowning-prevention/
5. Guevarra JP, Peden AE, et al. Preventing Child Drowning in the Philippines: The Need to Address the Determinants of Health. Children 8(1):29, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8010029
6. Philippine Red Cross, Trainings (accessed 2026). https://redcross.org.ph/trainings and Safety Service, https://redcross.org.ph/safety-service/
7. Philippine Life Saving Society (Philippine Life Saving), Lifesaver/Lifeguard Education & Training (accessed 2026). https://philippinelifesaving.org/7-mandates/lifesaver-lifeguard-education-training/ ; E-learning course list, https://philippinelifesaving.org/courses-list/
8. Philippine Drowning Prevention Council, Philippine Drowning Prevention Plan 2021-2025. https://philippinelifesaving.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Philippine-Drowning-Prevention-Plan-2021-2025.pdf
9. GMA News, "WHO proposes swimming subject in PHL curriculum," 23 October 2019. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/712800/who-proposes-swimming-subject-in-phl-curriculum/story/
10. Manila Times, "House bill seeks to add swimming as a subject," 12 April 2023. https://manilatimes.net/2023/04/12/news/national/house-bill-seeks-to-add-swimming-as-a-subject/1886722
11. Senate of the Philippines, Proposed Senate Resolution No. 204, 18th Congress (record). https://ldr.senate.gov.ph/legislative-issuance/proposed-senate-resolution-no-204-18th-congress
12. Radyo Inquirer, on Rep. Frederick Siao and House Bill 3495, 2019 (cited as shown in search results). https://radyo.inquirer.net/?p=173869
13. Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth, Survival Swimming. https://www.rlsscommonwealth.org/life-saving/survival-swimming/
14. Vera Files, "8 Filipinos die of drowning every day: DOH," 15 December 2011. https://verafiles.org/articles/8-filipinos-die-of-drowning-every-day-doh
15. ILSF-hosted report of the Safe Kids Philippines, PLSS and DOH study, "Drowning: Silent killer of RP kids," by Jenny F. Manongdo, 20 December 2009. https://ilsf.org/?p=687
16. WorldAtlas, "How Many Islands Are There in the Philippines?" (reporting NAMRIA), 19 October 2018. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-many-islands-are-there-in-the-philippines.html

Last reviewed: 12 October 2026.