Saying that the government is exerting all efforts to address the matter.
“[W]e’re doing everything that we can,” President Marcos said on Sunday, October 11, when he was asked for a response to the approval of the bill seeking to ban minors from accessing high-risk digital services, which is being linked to them being groomed into committing violent acts.
According to the President, the matter has to be looked into to further examine the causes of what he said is a generational problem, claiming that the violence is not a police problem, or an education problem, but a psychological problem.
He also called the recent incidents of campus violence as “terrible” and admitted that there is difficulty in addressing school attacks.
Marcos also noted that installing metal detectors in the school and making teachers and parents more attentive to their children may also be a solution.
“So, all of these things. There’s no silver bullet to this. You have to bring many, many things together,” the President said.
Prior to this, President Marcos also said in another event last September that the government is strengthening efforts to make schools safer by hiring 10,000 school counselor associates for the current school year.
The initiative, he said, aims to promote a safe and positive learning environment for students and give young people greater access to support and guidance.
This, as the additional counselor associates are expected to help strengthen mental health and psychosocial support in schools, while complementing existing efforts to address bullying, violence and other challenges affecting students.
“We have hired 10,000 school counselor associates for this school year. We are promoting a safe and positive learning environment for our students,” he told.
He also expressed concern over recent incidents in schools in Tacloban, Zamboanga and South Cotabato, saying such cases have caused pain not only to the families involved but also to the entire country.
Last June 22, two teenage minor suspects opened fire in San Jose National High School, Tacloban, Leyte, killing three.
That was followed on August 18, three individuals died, including the perpetrator after a student fired at a junior high school campus in Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City.
Then, on September 18, a Grade 9 student shot multiple students in Banga National High School, Banga, South Cotabato.
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ‘yung mga pangyayari na nakita natin sa Tacloban, sa Zamboanga, sa South Cotabato. At ito talaga ay dumudugo ang puso, hindi lamang ng mga pamilya, kapamilya ng mga nasawi, kung hindi ang buong bansa,” the President said then.
He then emphasized that students should be able to go to school without fear and study in an environment where their safety and well-being are protected.
Marcos then reiterated that the government is working closely with teachers, parents, barangay workers and other stakeholders to strengthen security in schools and prevent incidents of violence.
“We are committed to providing our youth, our parents, and communities with the knowledge and resources to prevent and respond to school violence,” the President added.
Meanwhile, on October 12 (Monday), the Department of Education also launched the National School Safety Week.
