Metro Manila, Philippines – A School Safety Bill gained fresh momentum in the Senate on Wednesday, July 9, as lawmakers examined gaps in campus security and emergency response following the Tacloban City, Leyte school shooting and the deaths of two Ateneo de Manila University basketball players in Aurora.
The Senate committee on basic education, chaired by Sen. Bam Aquino, discussed measures on school safety, anti-bullying, digital safety, student guidance, and student-athlete welfare as it reviewed whether existing policies are enough to protect learners.
Aquino said recent incidents of violence in schools and the Ateneo tragedy highlight the need to make school safety a government priority.
“Magkakaiba man ang mga pangyayaring ito, iisa po ang mensahe: ang mga paaralan dapat ligtas, ang mga estudyante ay dapat ligtas, at ang School Safety Act ay dapat gawing prayoridad ng ating gobyerno,” Aquino said.
[Translation: These incidents may be different, but they all carry the same message: our schools must be safe, our students must be safe, and the School Safety Act must become a government priority.]
The measure was originally focused on strengthening anti-bullying policies but has since expanded to address broader school safety concerns following recent incidents of violence.
Aquino said the bill aims to strengthen on- and off-campus security, establish emergency response protocols, expand mental health and psychosocial support, and improve coordination among schools, local governments, and law enforcement.
Security gaps, counselor hiring
Officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) identified several security gaps in schools. Officials said only about 36% of schools have security camera systems, while only a tenth have metal detectors and nearly one-third have security guards.
Aquino said the bill should go beyond requiring security devices and ensure schools have personnel capable of monitoring and responding to threats.
“Huwag tayong tumigil sa devices. Kasi kung may device pero wala namang tamang paggamit, di rin magiging solusyon,” the senator stressed.
[Translation: We should not stop at providing devices. If the equipment is not being used properly, it will not solve the problem.]
The DepEd also sought legislative support for perimeter fencing, saying many schools still rely on makeshift barriers. Officials noted the Tacloban school shooter was able to flee through a low perimeter fence.
The committee also reviewed the implementation of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act. DepEd said it expects to hire 15,000 School Counselor Associates before the end of the year.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said deployment should be prioritized in schools reporting high rates of bullying and violence, citing a previous EDCOM II study.
“Normally, the hiring takes about three months, but we compressed it to 35 days maximum. We’re looking forward that by September, we’ll be able to deploy the 10,000 SCAs across our 45,928 schools,” DepEd Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral said.
Increased school violence
The DepEd said it observed an increase in bomb threats, stabbing incidents, and other reports of school violence following the Tacloban shooting, describing it as a possible “copycat phenomenon.”
“After the Tacloban, mas lalong dumami. I think majority of that which really concerned DepEd are the threats, yung bomb threats at saka yung shooting threats,” Education Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said.
[Translation: After the Tacloban incident, we saw even more cases. What concerns DepEd the most are the bomb threats and shooting threats.]
The hearing also tackled proposals regulating gadget and social media use in schools. Aquino said he is not inclined to mandate an outright gadget ban but is considering giving schools and local governments the authority to impose restrictions based on their circumstances. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, sought DepEd’s support for his proposed Phone-Free Schools Act.
Child protection and mental health experts also urged lawmakers to strengthen digital literacy, online safety education, and psychosocial interventions instead of focusing on a single cause of school violence.
Tacloban shooting, Ateneo tragedy investigation
DepEd said classes have partially resumed at the affected school in Tacloban. More than 600 learners have received psychosocial first aid, while 38 identified as high-risk are undergoing more intensive mental health intervention.
“Resumption of classes would somehow establish normalcy in the school and provide a level of confidence to parents and community na ligtas naman po yung school and at the same time, it’s really to… alisin yung trauma,” Garma said.
[Translation: …that the campus is safe, and helps students recover from the trauma.]
The committee also received updates on the investigation into the deaths of Ateneo basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Local disaster officials said the beach has remained under a permanent red gale warning flag because of dangerous wave conditions and has recorded at least eight drowning deaths since 2017, including Baterbonia and Adili.
They said swimming is prohibited under a red flag warning unless appropriate safety measures are in place.
The PNP said it has yet to file criminal complaints and has referred the case to the Department of Justice for case buildup.
The Commission on Higher Education, the Philippine Sports Commission, and other agencies recommended minimum safety standards, risk assessments, and emergency protocols for off-campus activities.
Senator Bong Go, meanwhile, cited his proposed Student-Athlete Safety Act, which seeks to establish a comprehensive student-athlete safety and welfare policy, including the creation of a National Student-Athlete Safety Code.
Aquino said the committee will consider the recommendations raised during the hearing as it refines the proposed School Safety Act and related measures.
