President Ferdinand “Bongbong“ Marcos Jr. on Monday said the three school shooting incidents reported in the country this year are unacceptable, vowing that his administration is committed to making schools safer for teachers and students.
“We are promoting a safe and positive learning environment for our students. Hindi katanggap-tanggap ’yung mga pangyayaring nakita natin sa Tacloban, sa Zamboanga, South Cotabato,” Marcos said during the recognition of Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) participating schools and education partners in Pasay City.
Marcos said the incidents were painful not only for the families of those who died but also for the entire country, stressing the need to ensure that schools remain safe environments where students can learn effectively.
“Ito talaga ay dumudugo ang puso hindi lamang ng mga kapamilya ng mga nasawi kung hindi ang buong bansa dahil ayaw na ayaw natin nakikita na hindi tayo nakakasiguro, hindi tayo nakakatiyak na ang ating mga eskwelahan ay ligtas. At ’yung ating mga kabataan ay sila ay nasa environment na kaya nilang mag-aral nang mabuti,” he said.
The President said the government is working with teachers, parents, barangay workers and other stakeholders to strengthen school security and equip communities with the knowledge and resources needed to prevent and respond to school violence.
“Be assured that the government is working closely with our teachers, parents, barangay workers and other stakeholders to make our schools more secure,“ Marcos said.
“We are committed to providing our youth, our parents, and communities with the knowledge and resources to prevent and respond to school violence,” he added.
The President also said the government has hired 10,000 school counselor associates for School Year 2026-2027 to help “promote a safe and positive“ learning environment for students.
Three school shooting incidents have been reported in the last quarter in Tacloban City, Zamboanga City, and South Cotabato.
The incidents left eight people dead, including the alleged shooters, and injured several others, including students, faculty members, teachers, and school staff.
