President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered tighter school security and better training for teachers to spot behavioral warning signs among students following two incidents involving minors in Misamis Oriental and Davao City.
“Ang utos ng Pangulo, unang-una po, kailangan ang mga teachers, ang mga teaching personnel, sila po ay mabigyan ng kaalaman through a psychologist, psychiatrist para malaman kung ang isang bata ba ay may senyales na,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said at a press briefing in Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
A 12-year-old student was allegedly found carrying a firearm near an elementary school in Misamis Oriental on October 22, while a 13-year-old student allegedly stabbed an 11-year-old schoolmate in Davao City on October 24.
Marcos Jr. also wants teachers, parents, barangay officials and social workers to work together to prevent school violence, with barangay officials and tanods helping monitor school surroundings.
The Department of Education has proposed P500 million in the 2027 national budget for school safety. It also has 45,994 learner formation officers, with 36,713 schools having designated personnel for student discipline and early intervention.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is also helping parents and teachers identify behavioral changes and emotional distress among children.
“Maraming interventions ngayon ang DSWD at DepEd. At iyon nga po ang utos ng Pangulo, kailangan na mas mabigyan pa ng sapat na kaalaman ang mga teachers at teaching personnel para mas magabayan nila ang mga estudyante sa school,” Castro said.IMT
