TACLOBAN CITY — More than 2,000 additional guidance counselors could be deployed to public schools nationwide under a proposed P802-million allocation in the 2027 national budget, aimed at strengthening mental health and student support services.
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said Sunday, August 23, that the proposed funding would create 2,021 positions under the Department of Education (DepEd).
The allocation would cover 1,800 school counselor associate I positions and 221 school division counselor positions.
Libanan said the additional personnel are needed amid growing concerns over student mental health, bullying and school violence, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and professional support for learners experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties.
The proposal comes after two fatal school shooting incidents in less than two months, including the June 22 attack at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left three students dead and 20 others injured, and the Aug. 18 shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University that killed a student and the assailant.
“These incidents show why we must invest not only in physical security but also in the emotional and psychological support available to our students,” Libanan said.
He also called on private elementary and high schools to strengthen their investments in professional guidance and counseling services, saying the well-being of children is a shared responsibility.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
