In a major legislative push to safeguard the nation’s youth, Senate Committee on Basic Education Chairman Senator Bam Aquino officially sponsored Senate Bill No. 2426, or the proposed Comprehensive School Safety Act, urging Congress to prioritize the measure following recent school shootings in Tacloban City and Zamboanga City.
During Wednesday’s Senate session, Aquino called for the bill’s immediate inclusion in the priority list of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), drawing immediate co-sponsorship from several fellow senators and strong backing from the executive branch.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara attended the session to personally express the Department of Education’s (DepEd) full alignment with the Senate’s initiative.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Senator Bam Aquino, as well as the co-authors of the Comprehensive School Safety Act,” Angara stated. “By converting our campus security, anti-bullying, and mental health support protocols into a permanent national framework, the bill guarantees these safeguards remain funded and sustained for future generations.”
The proposed legislation creates a permanent, three-pillar framework for learning institutions nationwide centered on prevention, response, and recovery. Under prevention, the bill mandates hazard identification alongside safety training for student leaders, parents, and teachers. The response component establishes standardized emergency protocols, active attack safety drills, robust communication networks and direct coordination with law enforcement. Finally, the recovery phase guarantees trauma-informed care, long-term psychosocial support and structured reintegration plans for affected students and school personnel.
The legislative push builds directly upon existing executive measures, including DepEd Order No. 006, s. 2026, which launched the Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment (ESMLE).
To address physical threats, the bill complements current DepEd security upgrades, such as handheld metal detectors, regular bag checks, CCTV installations, strict visitor controls and heightened police patrols. To address behavioral and mental health needs, the framework supports the ongoing expansion of the National Learners Telesafe Contact Center Helpline, strengthened Child Protection Committees and the expedited hiring of 10,000 School Counselor Associates across public schools.
With strong momentum in the upper chamber, lawmakers aim to swiftly pass the measure to ensure schools nationwide remain secure, supportive spaces for learning.