Manila Mayor Isko Moreno warned on Friday that youths involved in serious violations, including school bullies, will in the future be banned from enrolling in city-owned universities and colleges.
According to a proposed city ordinance, students who bring weapons onto campus, participate in riots, or are officially found to have engaged in bullying will face expulsion from Manila public schools, including the Universidad de Manila and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
The proposal aims to further strengthen campus discipline and safety.
Moreno stated that students involved in school bullying, after being investigated through due process and found to have violated rules, could also be subject to expulsion.
He said that while individual rights must be respected, the government is also responsible for safeguarding the safety and interests of the majority of students, parents, and teachers.
"We must protect the rights of the majority. Those involved in serious violations should be temporarily removed from campus and subjected to disciplinary procedures."
He also called for giving teachers greater authority to enforce discipline so that school order can be effectively maintained.
On the other hand, Moreno pointed out that the Manila School and Community Safety Special Task Force he established on Thursday will hold its first meeting next week.
He signed Executive Order No. 29, series of 2026, on June 24, officially launching the "Manila School Safety Initiative."
The program adopts a prevention-first strategy, with core principles including eliminating illegal firearms and armed threats, responding promptly to any credible warning of violence, and strengthening schools' and communities' emergency response capabilities.
The special task force is tasked with monitoring potential security threats to schools, public gatherings, and key facilities, and is to submit reports to the Office of the Mayor on a quarterly basis.
This measure is a response by the Manila city government to a recent spate of school violence incidents, which have resulted in multiple student casualties and sparked heightened public concern over campus safety.
The proposal aims to further strengthen campus discipline and safety.
Moreno stated that students involved in school bullying, after being investigated through due process and found to have violated rules, could also be subject to expulsion.
He said that while individual rights must be respected, the government is also responsible for safeguarding the safety and interests of the majority of students, parents, and teachers.
"We must protect the rights of the majority. Those involved in serious violations should be temporarily removed from campus and subjected to disciplinary procedures."
He also called for giving teachers greater authority to enforce discipline so that school order can be effectively maintained.
On the other hand, Moreno pointed out that the Manila School and Community Safety Special Task Force he established on Thursday will hold its first meeting next week.
He signed Executive Order No. 29, series of 2026, on June 24, officially launching the "Manila School Safety Initiative."
The program adopts a prevention-first strategy, with core principles including eliminating illegal firearms and armed threats, responding promptly to any credible warning of violence, and strengthening schools' and communities' emergency response capabilities.
The special task force is tasked with monitoring potential security threats to schools, public gatherings, and key facilities, and is to submit reports to the Office of the Mayor on a quarterly basis.
This measure is a response by the Manila city government to a recent spate of school violence incidents, which have resulted in multiple student casualties and sparked heightened public concern over campus safety.