Senate President Win Gatchalian on Tuesday renewed his call to utilize the Special Education Fund (SEF) for hiring security personnel to enhance safety across public schools nationwide.
Under Senate Bill No. 53, or the proposed 21st Century School Boards Act, the allowable uses of the SEF would be expanded to cover the salaries of security guards and utility staff assigned to public elementary and high schools.
The measure also aims to widen the scope of local school boards while giving local government units a larger role in tackling pressing education issues.
“Hindi na sapat ang pader at silid-aralan kung walang katiyakan ang kaligtasan ng ating mga estudyante,” Gatchalian pointed out.
“Kung may pondo para sa edukasyon, dapat paglaanan din natin ng pondo ang pagpapanatili ng seguridad sa mga paaralan dahil walang matututunan ang batang takot sa loob ng kanyang silid-aralan,” he stressed.
Gatchalian’s call follows a recent tragic incident at Las Piñas National High School, where a 14-year-old student allegedly stabbed a 13-year-old classmate to death following an argument inside the campus.
The Senate leader noted that these proposed amendments to the Local Government Code are part of the priority agenda set by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).