SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian stressed the need to address the shortage of mental health professionals in the country in the aftermath of the string of deadly school shootings.
In a statement, Gatchalian said the Department of Health’s (DOH) plan to train health care workers to provide mental health support could help bridge the gap.
He stressed, however, that training existing health care workers should only be part of a longer-term strategy.
The country must also ensure that enough graduates are produced to become mental health professionals and other qualified personnel capable of delivering school-based mental health programs and services.
Gatchalian said this is consistent with Republic Act 12080, or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which will institutionalize mental health programs and services in schools.
He raised the concern after the recent shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University High School campus, where two students were killed, including the Grade 8 student who was identified as the shooter.
Gatchalian underscored the importance of making mental health support accessible not only to students in select schools but also to learners and communities nationwide.
"This should not be a privilege; mental health services should be accessible to everyone in all schools and communities," he said.
Health Secretary Edwin Mercado earlier said the department is looking at accrediting health workers who can assist mental health professionals in providing counseling and therapy to those in need.
"They need not be psychiatrists or psychologists. We call this task shifting wherein we will equip some of our health care professionals to come in and take part in the initial stages of mental health intervention," Mercado said in a radio interview.
He said he will meet with mental health specialists “and ask them to provide assistance on how to develop the program, including the certification requirements of those who can be deputized to conduct these mental health assessments."
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the department needs 48,000 school counselor associates nationwide, but its 2026 budget covers only 10,000 positions.
Angara said the goal is to have one school counselor associate in every school.
For 2026, the Department of Education (DepEd) has a P1.015 trillion budget, with P705.79 billion allocated for the salaries and benefits of teachers and non-teaching personnel.
The allocation includes P471.06 billion for permanent positions, P1.74 billion for teaching overload honoraria, P4.82 billion for special hardship allowances for teachers in difficult or remote assignments, and P53.94 billion for retirement and life insurance premiums.
The Philippines has an estimated 700 psychiatrists, 2,500 psychologists and 3,000 guidance counselors.
