Sen. Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday called on parent-teacher associations (PTAs) to prioritize not only school projects but also child development, particularly the behavior of children both at home and in school.

Speaking during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality held on July 1, Tulfo said PTA meetings in many schools are often centered on funding school projects, rather than on discussing children’s behavioral and developmental needs.

“Every time na magkakaroon ng PTA meeting, ang palaging pinag-uusapan sa mga eskwelahan ay kung anong project ang pwede nilang aksyunan at pwedeng pagkontribusyunan na para magawa ‘yong project sa eskwelahan na ‘yon,” Tulfo said.

“Dapat sa PTA meeting, ang pinag-uusapan ng mga magulang at guro tungkol sa child development; tungkol sa behavior ng bata whether sa bahay o sa school,” he said.

He added that PTA discussions should be redirected toward understanding student behavior and identifying early signs of potential problems, saying this should become the standard approach in all schools.

Tulfo also proposed that schools consider implementing structured discipline programs, including supervised bootcamps and immersion activities, which he said could help students better understand consequences for misconduct.

The Senate resumed its investigation on July 1 into the role of online gaming platforms in exposing minors to violent content and harmful online communities, following a deadly school shooting in Tacloban City that left three minors dead.