ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The Iloilo City local government is broadening its school-based mental health initiatives to cover educators and parents, acknowledging their critical position in spotting and addressing early psychological concerns among youth.
Joy Gorzal, spokesperson for Mayor Raisa Treñas, stated on Friday that the local chief executive emphasized including educators since they maintain constant, direct interaction with learners.
“Before we expect our teachers to help our students, we also have to make sure that we are taking care of them,” Gorzal said in a voice message.
The expanded initiative will provide teachers with specialized training and resources to help them recognize early indicators of emotional or mental distress in children. Furthermore, Mayor Treñas envisions involving parents through local Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) to reinforce and sustain mental health interventions initiated at school.
The plan was outlined during a Thursday meeting between Treñas and administrators from several academic institutions, including St. Robert’s International College, St. Therese-MTC Colleges, Hope Baptist Academy of Iloilo Inc., Bo. Obrero Elementary School, and Bo. Obrero National High School. Following the discussions, the mayor instructed city officials to formalize the program’s framework.
The expansion comes alongside ongoing local efforts to improve student wellness services, including a recent partnership with Sagrado Corazon de Jesus.
At present, the city administration manages the Raise, Awareness, Intervene, Support and Empower (RAISE) Mental Health Program, offering free and confidential assistance.
Operating on the ground floor of Iloilo City Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, RAISE provides counseling, telecounseling, stress debriefing, and marital guidance.