TACLOBAN CITY – Citing the need to better protect learners following the recent fatal school shooting in Tacloban City, the provincial government of Northern Samar is intensifying efforts to strengthen child protection by adopting a whole-of-society approach that brings together schools, parents, local government units, law enforcement agencies, and communities to ensure safer learning environments.
During the Provincial School Board Meeting on June 30, Vice Governor Clarence Dato, representing Governor Harris Ongchuan, stressed the importance of strengthening early identification and intervention mechanisms for learners, particularly those showing signs of emotional or behavioral distress.
The initiative comes in the wake of the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, which claimed the lives of three students and injured 20 others, prompting local governments to reassess school safety and mental health programs.
Dato emphasized that schools and frontline government workers must be equipped to recognize warning signs among learners before these develop into more serious problems.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Jenny Darish expressed support for the initiative, committing to work closely with the Department of Education (DepEd) in establishing a structured system for the early identification, assessment, and referral of children considered at risk.
The proposed program includes training teachers to recognize behavioral and emotional indicators, while strengthening referral mechanisms among schools, local government units, barangay Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) desks, and social welfare offices to ensure timely intervention and appropriate support services.
DepEd Northern Samar Schools Division Superintendent Gaudencio Aljibe Jr. presented the division’s existing learner protection initiatives, highlighting DepEd Order No. 006, Series of 2026, which reinforces visitor management protocols, school security measures, psychosocial services, and contingency planning.
He also cited Division Memorandum Nos. 235 and 191, Series of 2026, which seek to strengthen child protection policies, promote positive relationships between teachers and parents, intensify anti-bullying campaigns, and foster safe and supportive learning environments.
Aljibe said the division continues to provide counseling and psychosocial interventions for learners while partnering with the University of Eastern Philippines to enhance the capacity of non-teaching personnel in guidance counseling and mental health support.
Meanwhile, the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office (NSPPO) called for stronger parental supervision to discourage minors from driving motorcycles, citing the increasing number of road accidents involving children and adolescents.
The provincial police also proposed reviving its memorandum of understanding with DepEd to facilitate a stronger police presence in schools as part of campus safety, crime prevention, and emergency response efforts.
Members of the Provincial School Board likewise recommended regulating cellphone use inside classrooms to minimize distractions, protect instructional time, and improve student engagement.
They also emphasized the need to improve school sanitation and the overall learning environment, noting that clean, orderly, and child-friendly schools contribute to bullying prevention and learners’ overall well-being.
Board Members Emil Ongchuan and Gerard Miranda also presented recommendations aimed at strengthening child welfare programs, promoting discipline, and enhancing learner safety both inside schools and in the wider community.
Through the Provincial School Board and programs funded under the School Education Fund, the provincial government said it remains committed to implementing preventive, collaborative, and community-based initiatives that will ensure every learner in Northern Samar studies in a safe, secure, and supportive environment.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
