The Philippine National Police (PNP) has backed a Senate proposal that would overhaul school safety measures, from preventing bullying and managing campus visitors to responding to emergencies and protecting students’ mental health.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police were prepared to coordinate with the Department of Education and other stakeholders as lawmakers considered Senate Bill No. 2426, or the proposed Comprehensive School Safety Act.
Sponsored by Senate basic education committee chair Sen. Bam Aquino, the measure seeks to establish broader safety and risk prevention systems in schools instead of focusing only on security after incidents occur.
The proposal covers emergency response and recovery protocols, security infrastructure and visitor management, while expanding mental health and child protection services for learners.
It also consolidates measures aimed at strengthening safeguards against bullying, regulating mobile device use on campus and promoting responsible social media use among students.
“We support measures that strengthen the protection of our learners,” Nartatez said, stressing that school safety should be “preventive, responsive and supportive.”
The PNP chief said police would strengthen threat assessments, emergency preparedness and coordination with school authorities as part of its role in protecting campuses.
Nartatez also committed to improving police visibility around schools and working with DepEd and other stakeholders should the proposed safeguards move forward.
