School violence not just a 'school issue' but a family issue, says gov't agency

MANILA – Stronger family support, accessible mental health services, and early intervention for adolescents must complement tighter campus security to prevent school violence, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) said Wednesday amid renewed concern over deadly attacks involving students.

In a statement, the CPD stressed that accountability after an attack is necessary, but prevention should begin before warning signs develop into violence.

“School violence is not solely a law enforcement or school discipline concern. It is also a family, developmental, mental health, and community issue that demands a whole-of-society response,” the commission said.

The call gained urgency following Tuesday’s tragic shooting at the high school campus of Ateneo de Zamboanga University. It was the country’s second fatal school shooting after the June 22 incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.

The CPD said families serve as the first line of prevention by maintaining communication with children, recognizing changes in behavior, and helping them manage emotions and conflicts constructively.

It noted that adolescence is marked by rapid emotional, psychological, and social changes, with young people increasingly influenced by peers, digital platforms, and their environment.

Investments in adolescent health and development, the CPD said, should therefore equip young people with emotional resilience, sound decision-making, healthy relationship skills, and the confidence to seek help when confronted with difficulties.

The commission also called for stronger school-based child protection mechanisms, guidance and counseling services, psychosocial support, anti-bullying programs, and referral systems capable of identifying learners experiencing emotional distress or behavioral risks before problems escalate.

Parents, meanwhile, should take a more active role in their children’s digital lives, not merely by monitoring online activity but by discussing responsible social media use, cyberbullying, respectful online behavior, and the content they consume.

Following the Zamboanga attack, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident and determine additional measures to strengthen school safety.

The Philippine National Police had begun reviewing school security protocols following the June Tacloban shooting, including stronger police-school coordination and tighter monitoring of campus entry and exit points.

However, the CPD said, safer schools ultimately require interventions beyond campus gates, involving families, local governments, health providers, civil society, and communities.

“Every adolescent deserves more than protection from violence – they deserve families that communicate, schools that care, communities that listen, and institutions that act before warning signs become irreversible loss,” it said.