Following a visit to victims of a recent shooting in Zamboanga, Vice President Sara Duterte called on academic institutions to tighten security measures and expand mental health initiatives to prevent campus violence.
Duterte urged administrators to launch dedicated psychosocial wellness initiatives and anti-bullying drives, alongside routine monitoring of both students and staff to identify individuals requiring assistance or intervention.
She noted that safety protocols must encompass school personnel as well, pointing out that potential risks can arise from any member of the educational community.
“Madami tayong dapat gawin: una-unang dapat meron tayong psychosocial wellness program sa loob ng ating paaralan. Iba yung anti-bullying program sa loob din ng ating paaralan,” Duterte said.
“At dapat meron tayong pagmo-monitor sa ating mga estudyante at hindi lang sa kanila, kasama na yung mga school personnel kasi posibleng sa kanila din manggagaling yung mga active shooters sa lahat ng community sa loob ng paaralan,” she added. “Dapat meron tayong pagmo-monitor.”
The Vice President stressed that school leaders need to be prepared to identify and address the mental health needs of students and staff early on.
“Kung kailangan ba nila ng tulong, kailangan ba ng counseling, so dapat ma-catch ’yun ng ating mga school authorities,” she stated.
Duterte added that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is actively looking into ways to support schools with emergency preparedness, treating campus shootings with the same urgency as major disasters through its dedicated disaster response office.
“Nandito din kami para magtanong sa iba’t ibang paaralan paano makatulong ang Office of the Vice President sa pagiging handa nila sa mga iba’t ibang posibleng mangyari sa loob ng mga eskwelahan,” she said.
“At yung mga ganyang pangyayari tulad ng pamamaril ay kino-konsidera namin na isang trahedya, isang kalamidad, isang disaster.”