Senate Committee on Basic Education Senator Bam Aquino on Thursday, July 9, called for the immediate passage of the proposed School Safety Act, stressing the need to strengthen security measures in schools following a series of violent incidents involving students across the country.

Speaking at the Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing, which was chaired by Aquino, he said recent tragedies, including the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City, underscore the urgency of making school safety a national priority.

"Magkakaiba man ang mga pangyayaring ito, iisa po ang mensahe: ang mga paaralan dapat ligtas, ang mga estudyante ay dapat ligtas, at ang School Safety Act ay dapat gawing prayoridad ng ating gobyerno," Aquino said.

The senator recalled his visit to Tacloban, where he met with the families of the victims and members of the affected community.

"Nakita natin ang sakit ng mga magulang, ang takot ng mga estudyante, at ang pangamba ng buong komunidad," he said.

Aquino noted that the Tacloban shooting was not an isolated incident, citing recent cases of school violence, including a stabbing incident in Negros Occidental, students caught carrying knives and firearms inside schools, bullying cases that escalated into violence, and a recent incident at Ateneo that highlighted security concerns even in higher education institutions.

He said the proposed School Safety Act, which initially focused on strengthening anti-bullying measures, has been expanded to address evolving security threats in schools.

Among the proposed measures are enhanced on- and off-campus security, wider installation of CCTV systems and other appropriate security measures, stronger emergency response protocols, expanded mental health and psychosocial support for students and teachers, and improved coordination among schools, local government units, and law enforcement agencies.

Aquino emphasized that ensuring safe schools is a shared responsibility.

"Ang school safety ay hindi lamang responsibilidad ng DepEd o ng paaralan. Responsibilidad po ito ng whole-of-nation... Responsibilidad ng mga magulang, ng komunidad. At higit sa lahat, responsibilidad po ng bawat isa sa atin dito," he said.

The senator concluded by urging lawmakers and stakeholders to set aside politics and work together to ensure that every school in the country remains "a place of learning, dreams, and safety" for Filipino students.