Senate President Win Gatchalian is pushing for legislation that will allow local government units to use the Special Education Fund (SEF) to hire security personnel, citing the recent rise in violent incidents in schools.
Under Senate Bill No. 53 or the proposed 21st Century School Boards Act, Gatchalian seeks to expand the allowable uses of the SEF beyond the construction and maintenance of classrooms and school facilities to include safety initiatives, such as the deployment of trained security guards.
The measure also aims to strengthen the role of local government units in responding to urgent concerns affecting the education sector.
Gatchalian said the proposal was prompted by recent cases of school-related violence, including the fatal stabbing of a 13-year-old learner allegedly by his 14-year-old classmate at Las Piñas National High School.
“Hindi na sapat ang pader at silid-aralan kung walang katiyakan ang kaligtasan ng ating mga estudyante. Kung may pondo para sa edukasyon, dapat paglaanan din natin ng pondo ang pagpapanatili ng seguridad sa mga paaralan dahil walang matututunan ang batang takot sa loob ng kanyang silid-aralan,” Gatchalian said.
The proposed amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991, which seeks to broaden the permissible use of the SEF, are included in the priority agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.