Senator Mark Villar urged the Senate to immediately pass a proposed measure aimed at reinforcing security protocols across educational institutions nationwide following a series of deadly school violence incidents.
In his co-sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 2426, or the proposed Comprehensive School Safety Act, Villar highlighted the urgent need for permanent safeguards to protect students, teachers, and school personnel.
The substitute bill under Committee Report No. 89 establishes an all-hazards, whole-of-society strategy to address physical, mental, psychosocial, health, and digital security threats.
Villar stressed the alarming frequency of these violent acts and the ease with which minors obtain weapons.
“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 measure incorporates key elements from Villar’s earlier filings, including the Learning Institutions’ Guaranteed Threat Avoidance and Safety (LIGTAS) Act and the Students’ Guidance Counseling Act.
Under the integrated provisions, police presence and emergency response teams around schools will be expanded, while institutions will be required to install security infrastructure such as CCTV cameras and metal detectors. Additionally, the bill strengthens campus mental health programs to provide professional counseling and intervene before risks escalate.
Villar also called for enhanced protection for educators and staff, pointing out their vulnerability during crises as seen in recent incidents in Tacloban and Zamboanga.
“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 stated.
Reminding his colleagues of their collective responsibility as lawmakers and parents, Villar emphasized that learning environments must remain safe spaces.
“At bilang mga mambabatas at mga magulang, responsibilidad natin na siguraduhing ang mga bata ay malaya at ligtas na makakapag-aral at makakauwi sa kanilang bahay. Walang bata ang dapat matakot pumasok sa paaralan at walang magulang ang dapat mangamba kung makakauwi pa ang kanilang mga anak,” he added.