Senator Mark Villar pushes for comprehensive school safety bill after deadly campus attacks

MANILA — Senator Mark Villar has renewed his call for the immediate passage of a comprehensive school safety framework following a recent spate of violent incidents that left students and school personnel dead.

Villar emphasized that every life lost to campus violence should serve as an urgent catalyst to bolster protection for learners and educators alike.

“Lubos pong nakakaalarma ang sunod-sunod na insidente ng karahasan sa mga eskwelahan. Kailangan po na magkaroon ng comprehensive at holistic na solusyon sa isyu na ito, lalong-lalo na at nakikita natin kung gaano kadali para sa mga bata ang magkaroon ng akses sa baril at iba pang deadly weapons,” Villar said.

(“The series of violent incidents in schools is deeply alarming. We need a comprehensive and holistic solution to this issue, especially as we see how easily children can gain access to firearms and other deadly weapons.”)

Senate Bill No. 2426, or the proposed Comprehensive School Safety Act, aims to establish a whole-of-society, all-hazards framework to prevent, respond to, and recover from threats and emergencies in educational institutions. The measure addresses physical, mental, psychosocial, health, and digital safety for students and personnel.

Villar noted that the bill integrates key provisions from two measures he previously filed: the Learning Institutions’ Guaranteed Threat Avoidance and Safety (LIGTAS) Act and the Students’ Guidance Counseling Act.

Key provisions of the proposed law include:

• Enhanced Security: Increased presence of police and emergency response teams in and around campuses to assist with security inspections and threat assessments.

• Safety Infrastructure: Mandated installation of safety equipment, including CCTV cameras and metal detectors.

• Mental Health Support: Professional mental health interventions to identify and address youth psychological issues before they escalate into serious threats.

Villar also stressed the urgent need to protect teachers and school staff, who are expected to safeguard students during emergencies while facing identical risks.

“Bukod sa kanilang teaching load, nakasalalay rin po sa ating teachers at school staff ang seguridad ng mga estudyante tuwing mayroong insidente tulad nang nangyari sa Tacloban at Zamboanga kung saan school personnel ang ilan sa naging biktima. Mahalaga rin po na bigyan sila ng karagdagang suporta at proteksyon,” he added, citing recent attacks in Tacloban and Zamboanga.

(“Aside from their teaching load, the security of students rests on our teachers and school staff during emergencies—as seen in the Tacloban and Zamboanga incidents where school personnel were among the victims. It is vital that we give them additional support and protection.”)

Villar concluded that lawmakers and parents share the fundamental responsibility of ensuring children can attend school without fear and return home safely. -Paraluman News