(Manila, 25th – Comprehensive Report) The Philippine Department of Education has announced that it will accelerate the recruitment of counselor assistants and comprehensively strengthen campus security measures nationwide to prevent further incidents of school violence.
Department of Education Undersecretary Malcolm Garma stated on Thursday that the authorities will prioritize hiring more counselor assistants to provide students with enhanced psychological counseling and emotional support services, in order to prevent emotional distress or behavioral problems from worsening and escalating into violent incidents.
He said that since official counselor positions require meeting specific qualification criteria, the recruitment process faces certain challenges. Therefore, the Department of Education will hire more counselor assistants to assist in performing related counseling tasks, serving similar functions as counselors.
Garma pointed out that counseling services will be coordinated with existing campus mental health programs, encouraging students to proactively express their personal concerns and psychological pressures, detect problems early, and provide appropriate assistance.
In addition to enhancing mental health support, the Department of Education has also launched a nationwide inventory of campus security facilities, including the allocation of security personnel, CCTV systems, the installation of metal detectors, as well as strengthening cooperation with the Philippine National Police to increase police patrols and visibility around campuses.
The department has also requested schools to improve fencing and surrounding security facilities. Investigations show that in a recent shooting incident at a high school in Tacloban City, the suspect did not enter through the main gate, but climbed over a low fence to infiltrate the campus, exposing weaknesses in campus perimeter security.
Garma stated that the Department of Education is currently continuing to provide psychological counseling and psychosocial support services to teachers, students, and family members affected by the incident. During the suspension of classes on campus, students will continue to learn through alternative teaching modalities until the school and teachers and students are ready to resume face-to-face classes.
It is understood that authorities' investigations found that the school shooting case may have been planned months in advance. Therefore, the government is further reviewing campus security measures and investigating whether the case was influenced by harmful content online or external factors.
The Philippine Department of Education emphasized that it will simultaneously address psychological counseling and campus safety precautions, striving to create a safer and healthier learning environment to protect the personal safety of students and staff.
He said that since official counselor positions require meeting specific qualification criteria, the recruitment process faces certain challenges. Therefore, the Department of Education will hire more counselor assistants to assist in performing related counseling tasks, serving similar functions as counselors.
Garma pointed out that counseling services will be coordinated with existing campus mental health programs, encouraging students to proactively express their personal concerns and psychological pressures, detect problems early, and provide appropriate assistance.
In addition to enhancing mental health support, the Department of Education has also launched a nationwide inventory of campus security facilities, including the allocation of security personnel, CCTV systems, the installation of metal detectors, as well as strengthening cooperation with the Philippine National Police to increase police patrols and visibility around campuses.
The department has also requested schools to improve fencing and surrounding security facilities. Investigations show that in a recent shooting incident at a high school in Tacloban City, the suspect did not enter through the main gate, but climbed over a low fence to infiltrate the campus, exposing weaknesses in campus perimeter security.
Garma stated that the Department of Education is currently continuing to provide psychological counseling and psychosocial support services to teachers, students, and family members affected by the incident. During the suspension of classes on campus, students will continue to learn through alternative teaching modalities until the school and teachers and students are ready to resume face-to-face classes.
It is understood that authorities' investigations found that the school shooting case may have been planned months in advance. Therefore, the government is further reviewing campus security measures and investigating whether the case was influenced by harmful content online or external factors.
The Philippine Department of Education emphasized that it will simultaneously address psychological counseling and campus safety precautions, striving to create a safer and healthier learning environment to protect the personal safety of students and staff.