President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies, educators, and school personnel to bolster early detection of student behavioral warning signs to prevent campus violence and safeguard learners nationwide.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro outlined the executive directive during a press briefing in Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday, emphasizing mental health training for educators as the first line of defense.
“Ang utos ng Pangulo, unang-una po, kailangan ang mga teachers, ang mga teaching personnel, sila po ay mabigyan ng kaalaman through a psychologist, psychiatrist para malaman kung ang isang bata ba ay may senyales na,” Castro said.
To reinforce early intervention, 45,994 learner formation officers have been stationed in schools across the country, with 36,713 institutions deploying dedicated staff for values education, discipline management, and student support.
Parallel to school-based measures, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is mobilizing social workers to train parents and teachers on recognizing emotional distress and behavioral changes in children. These efforts place special emphasis on monitoring students who isolate themselves or engage in risky digital behaviors.
The President ordered tighter integration between schools, local barangay officials, social workers, and parents. Local authorities have been instructed to deploy barangay tanods around school peripheries to maintain high-visibility patrols and monitor surrounding areas.
Following recent safety incidents, including an October 22 report of a 12-year-old student allegedly carrying a firearm near a Misamis Oriental elementary school, and an October 24 stabbing involving two students aged 13 and 11 in Davao City, the Department of Education (DepEd) has proposed a P500-million allocation under the 2027 national budget. The funds will target upgraded physical security, dedicated security personnel, and specialized student safety programs.