PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants teachers and other school personnel trained by psychologists and psychiatrists to help them recognize early warning signs of behavioral problems among students.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president has directed concerned government agencies to strengthen school security and improve the early detection of behavioral warning signs among students to prevent incidents of violence.
“And that is indeed the president’s order: There is a need to provide teachers and teaching personnel with more adequate knowledge so they can better guide the students in school,” Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Marcos also directed closer coordination among teachers, parents, barangay (village) officials, and social workers to ensure the safety of schoolchildren nationwide.
Castro said barangay officials and barangay tanods (village watchmen) should also be mobilized to strengthen security around schools, particularly through increased visibility and monitoring in surrounding areas.
“Because the presence of barangay tanods in schools is not prohibited, unlike the police who are not allowed inside school premises,” she added.
The president’s directive came following reports of violent incidents involving minors, including a 12-year-old student who was allegedly found carrying a firearm near an elementary school in Misamis Oriental on Oct. 22 and a 13-year-old student who allegedly stabbed a schoolmate in Davao City on Oct. 24.
Castro said the Department of Education has proposed a P500 million allocation under the 2027 national budget to strengthen school security and safety measures, including personnel, facilities and programs aimed at protecting learners.
She added that 45,994 learner formation officers are assigned to schools nationwide, with 36,713 schools having designated personnel responsible for values formation, discipline management, learner engagement, and early intervention for students experiencing social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has stepped up efforts to educate parents and teachers on identifying behavioral changes and signs of emotional distress among children through its social workers.
These interventions also focus on helping parents recognize potential warning signs among children who spend extended periods alone or engage in potentially harmful online activities, the Palace said.
