House Committee on Basic Education Chairperson Rep. Roman Romulo has called for an aggressive and proactive implementation of existing school safety, anti-bullying, and mental wellness laws following the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City involving minors.
During an exclusive interview on DZRH's Isyung Pambayan, Romulo said the country already has sufficient legislation aimed at protecting students but stressed that stronger enforcement and early intervention are essential in preventing similar incidents.
Romulo emphasized that schools must consistently and effectively implement the Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) program while strengthening mental wellness initiatives through the deployment of more guidance professionals in schools.
"Meron na mga batas, nandiyan na yung Good Manners and Right Conduct, dapat lang talaga ipatupad ito aggressively at siguro proactive. Talagang siguraduhin natin na ang pagtuturo natin ng Good Manners and Right Conduct ay tama," Romulo said.
The lawmaker revealed that the government is working to significantly increase the number of mental health professionals in schools. He said around 10,000 school counselor associates and nearly 5,000 guidance counselors are expected to be added, pending the release of plantilla positions by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
According to Romulo, having trained counselors readily available is critical to identifying and assisting students, teachers, or non-teaching personnel experiencing emotional or psychological distress. He added that teachers should have immediate access to professionals who can assess students exhibiting unusual behavior and provide appropriate intervention.
While bullying has been widely discussed as a possible factor in the Tacloban incident, Romulo cautioned that authorities have yet to determine the exact motive behind the attack.
"Hindi pa naman tapos ang imbestigasyon. Hindi pa alam kung bullying or mental wellness," he said.
Romulo noted that the House of Representatives, through the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), had previously reviewed the country's anti-bullying policies and recommended amendments to the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) rather than introducing a new law. He said DepEd implemented those revisions in March 2025 to improve the speed and effectiveness of responses to bullying cases on campuses.
He also cited findings from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), where a significant number of Filipino students reported feeling bullied, reinforcing the need to strengthen existing policies and interventions.
Despite acknowledging the government's responsibility to enforce these measures, Romulo stressed that ensuring children's safety requires the participation of the entire community, particularly that of parents and families.
"Whole-of-community ito. Maraming oras na ginugugol ng ating mga learners sa bahay nila. Ang families kailangan mag-step up rin... tingnan natin kung kamusta ang ating mga anak, kung ano ang binabasa nila, at kung ano ang tinitingnan nila sa laptop, tablet, o cellphone," he said.
The lawmaker maintained that while legislation may still be improved if necessary, consistently enforcing existing laws and fostering stronger cooperation among schools, parents, and communities would help reduce incidents of school violence and better protect Filipino learners.
