Following a series of violent incidents in the country’s schools, Senate President Win Gatchalian is pushing for the passage of the Comprehensive School Safety Act (Senate Bill No. 2426), which will create the National Comprehensive School Safety Framework. The latest incident occurred at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.
The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with various government agencies, including local government units, shall lead in establishing, maintaining, and periodic updating of this framework, which shall prescribe standards for the prevention of, response to, and recovery from threats and incidents relating to school safety.
The proposed measure shall require every school to develop and annually update a School Safety Plan to localize and operationalize the school safety framework. Schools shall also prepare and regularly update a School Safety Handbook outlining policies, procedures, emergency information, and learner support services.
The School Safety Handbook shall also include the School Code of Conduct to clearly define unacceptable acts, as well as the corresponding disciplinary and restorative interventions.
“Hindi sapat ang reactive response. Kailangan nating maging proactive — kilalanin ang mga banta, pigilan ang insidente bago mangyari, at tiyaking ligtas ang bawat paaralan,” said Gatchalian, co-author and co-sponsor of the measure.
Gatchalian Itinutulak ang Comprehensive School Safety Framework sa Gitna ng Panibagong Pamamaril sa Paaralan
Dahil sa sunod-sunod na insidente ng karahasan sa mga paaralan sa bansa, itinutulak ni Senate President Win Gatchalian ang pagpasa ng Comprehensive School Safety Act (Senate Bill No. 2426) na naglalayong bumuo ng National Comprehensive School Safety Framework. Ang pinakahuling insidente ay naganap sa Banga National High School sa South Cotabato.
Pangungunahan ng Department of Education (DepEd), kasama ang iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno at mga local government unit (LGU), ang pagbuo, pagpapatupad, at regular na pag-update ng framework. Magtatakda ito ng mga pamantayan para sa pag-iwas, pagtugon, at pagbangon mula sa mga banta at insidenteng may kinalaman sa kaligtasan sa paaralan.
Sa ilalim ng panukala, kailangang gumawa at mag-update taun-taon ang bawat paaralan ng School Safety Plan upang maiangkop at maisakatuparan ang school safety framework batay sa kanilang lokal na sitwasyon. Kailangan din nilang maghanda at regular na mag-update ng School Safety Handbook na naglalaman ng mga polisiya, proseso, emergency information, at mga serbisyong suporta para sa mga mag-aaral.
Kasama rin sa School Safety Handbook ang School Code of Conduct na malinaw na magtatakda ng mga hindi katanggap-tanggap na gawain, pati na ang kaukulang disciplinary at restorative interventions.
“Hindi sapat ang reactive response. Kailangan nating maging proactive—kilalanin ang mga banta, pigilan ang insidente bago mangyari, at tiyaking ligtas ang bawat paaralan,” ani Gatchalian, co-author at co-sponsor ng panukala.
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Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OSP WIN GATCHALIAN
