Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is pushing for the creation of a regional rapid-response network of mental health and child protection professionals following the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.
The proposed network will form part of a broader effort to help schools respond faster to violence, trauma, and students in distress.
“Tatlo ang ating agarang direksyon. Una, bubuo tayo ng regional network ng mga volunteer psychologists, psychiatrists, guidance counselors, social workers at iba pang professionals na maaaring agad ma-deploy kapag may ganitong insidente,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez made the statement after meeting with officials from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at Price Mansion in Tacloban City.
He said the proposed network should be supported by preventive education and stronger coordination among government agencies, schools, and local communities.
“Pangalawa, magsasagawa tayo ng regular na seminars para sa mga estudyante, magulang at guro tungkol sa mental wellness, child protection at violence prevention. Pangatlo, palalakasin natin ang koordinasyon ng lahat ng ahensya upang mas mabilis ang pagtugon kapag may mga batang nangangailangan ng tulong,” he added.
The move came after the San Jose National High School shooting left three students dead and at least 20 others injured, raising national concern over school safety, bullying, children’s exposure to violent online content, and the availability of psychosocial support for affected students and teachers.
“Una sa lahat, nakikiramay tayo sa mga pamilya ng mga biktima ng nangyari sa San Jose National High School. Bilang mga magulang at bilang isang bansa, nasaktan tayong lahat,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez said the government response should go beyond sympathy, stressing that the tragedy exposed gaps that require both immediate action and long-term prevention.
“Pero naniniwala ako na hindi sapat ang makiramay lang. May pananagutan tayong kumilos,” he said.
He said the meeting with CHED, DepEd, DOH, and DSWD focused on assistance for those affected and measures to prevent similar incidents.
“Kaya ipinatawag natin ang CHED, DepEd, DOH at DSWD upang pag-usapan kung ano ang maaari nating gawin — hindi lang para tumulong sa mga naapektuhan ngayon, kundi para maiwasan na maulit ang ganitong trahedya,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez rejected suggestions that Congress should leave the matter entirely to executive agencies, saying lawmakers have a role in bringing institutions together and addressing gaps in law, funding, and implementation.
“Hindi ito usapin ng pakikialam. Ang tungkulin ng Kongreso ay hindi lamang gumawa ng batas,” he said.
“Responsibilidad din naming pagsama-samahin ang iba’t ibang sektor at tiyaking may sapat na suporta ang mga programa ng pamahalaan. Kapag may kakulangan sa batas o pondo, trabaho naming ayusin iyon,” he added.
Romualdez cautioned against reducing the shooting to a single cause while the investigation is ongoing, saying school violence may involve several overlapping factors.
“Hindi natin dapat pangunahan ang imbestigasyon. Maraming posibleng salik ang ganitong mga pangyayari — mental health, family environment, bullying, social media, access to counseling, at iba pa,” he said.
He said the objective is to strengthen the entire child protection and school safety system, rather than address only one issue after each tragedy.
“Kaya ang gusto nating tugunan ay ang buong ecosystem ng child protection at school safety, hindi lamang isang aspeto,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez said possible legislative responses include expanding school mental health programs, hiring more guidance counselors and social workers, strengthening Good Manners and Right Conduct instruction, and reviewing safeguards for minors’ use of social media.
“Kasama rito ang pagpapalawak ng school mental health programs, pagdaragdag ng guidance counselors at social workers sa mga paaralan, pagpapalakas ng GMRC, at pag-aaral ng mga hakbang upang mas maging ligtas ang paggamit ng social media ng mga menor de edad,” he said.
“Gusto nating maging mas handa ang ating mga paaralan sa pagprotekta sa ating mga kabataan,” he added.
Romualdez said children’s safety should be treated as a shared national duty, not the responsibility of one agency alone.
“Ang kaligtasan ng ating mga anak ay hindi responsibilidad ng isang ahensya lamang. Responsibilidad ito ng buong pamahalaan, ng mga paaralan, ng mga magulang, ng komunidad, at ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.
He said the country should not wait for another tragedy before fixing gaps in school safety, mental health support, and child protection.
“Ang trahedyang ito ay dapat maging paalala na hindi tayo maaaring maghintay ng susunod na insidente bago kumilos. Kung sama-sama tayong kikilos ngayon, mas marami tayong batang mapoprotektahan bukas,” Romualdez said.