TACLOBAN CITY— Nearly 100 multigrade schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) of Southern Leyte have received school-in-a-bag (SIAB) portable digital classrooms, expanding access to technology-enabled education for thousands of learners.

The latest deployment, considered the largest distribution of SIAB kits supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to date, benefited 97 last-mile schools through a partnership involving UNICEF, PLDT Inc., Smart Communications, Inc., the Department of Education (DepEd-8), and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

Each school-in-a-bag package includes a laptop, 10 tablets, a Smart Bro LTE Pocket WiFi with load allocation, teachers’ guides, and a collection of digital learning resources, including contextualized Learning Activity Sheets and #LearnSmart applications designed to improve learners’ literacy and numeracy skills.

UNICEF Education Specialist Jieun Yoon said the initiative seeks to ensure that children in marginalized communities have equitable access to quality education while equipping teachers with digital tools that make classroom instruction more engaging and effective.
Since 2019, UNICEF and the PLDT Group have deployed more than 300 SIAB kits to underserved schools across the country, helping bridge the digital divide through technology-assisted learning.

Roby Alampay, head of the public engagement and corporate communications group of PLDT and Smart, said the program delivers high-quality digital learning resources directly to children in remote communities, ensuring that learners have access to educational opportunities regardless of their location.

Among the beneficiaries is Benit Elementary School in the town of Malitbog, Southern Leyte where teachers said the SIAB will significantly enhance instruction in multigrade classrooms.

Teacher-in-Charge Merry Ann Tagon said the portable digital classroom can be used even without internet connectivity, enabling teachers and students to access offline educational content and continue learning uninterrupted.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Leyte First District Rep. Martin Romualdez has proposed a regional psychosocial support network, strengthened school safety and child protection systems, and greater parental and community involvement following the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School that left three students dead and 20 others injured.

Romualdez, a former House Speaker, presented the proposals during a consultative meeting on June 30 with national government agencies, local officials, and mental health experts to discuss immediate and long-term interventions in the aftermath of what officials described as one of the country’s most serious school shooting incidents.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED), along with Tingog party-list Representatives Andrew Romualdez and Jude Acidre.

Romualdez emphasized that child protection is a shared responsibility requiring coordination across government agencies, schools, and communities.

“This is not only San Jose’s problem or the problem of the victims’ families. It is everyone’s concern, and we must work together,” he said. “Let us harness our resources, human capital, trained experts, and volunteers. Let us establish structures that will ensure we are prepared to address situations like this.”

Following the consultation, agencies agreed to pursue three key initiatives.

These include the establishment of a Regional Psychosocial Volunteer Network composed of mental health professionals, guidance counselors, social workers, and trained volunteers to provide psychosocial support to students, families, and school personnel affected by the tragedy.

The second initiative focuses on strengthening the School Safety and Child Protection Program, including stricter safety protocols and improved mechanisms to ensure student security within school campuses.

The third initiative involves a Parent and Community Education Program aimed at strengthening the role of families and communities in child protection, mental health awareness, and early identification of behavioral concerns.

Romualdez said participating agencies committed to pooling experts and resources to sustain mental health and psychosocial interventions in affected communities.
“We now have the commitment of the respective departments, through their regional directors, to work as one team,” he said. “We will bring together trained professionals, psychoanalysts, guidance counselors, and other specialists to support this effort.”

He also noted that many children are left under limited supervision due to parents working locally or overseas, stressing the need for stronger community-based support systems.
Romualdez added that he will push for legislative measures in Congress to expand mental health services, strengthen child protection laws, and institutionalize school-based safety and support programs nationwide.

Tingog Party-list Reps. Jude Acidre and Andrew Romualdez also thanked government agencies and partner organizations for their swift response and continued cooperation.
Acidre raised the need to reassess policies on minors’ access to social media, citing concerns over exposure to harmful online content.

“Without appropriate safeguards, teenagers and even younger children may be exposed to violent content that is not suitable for them and could have serious psychological effects,” he said.

Officials said the initiatives aim to complement ongoing efforts to provide assistance to victims and ensure safer learning environments across the country.

The June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School has prompted renewed calls for stronger school security, expanded mental health services, and closer coordination among government agencies, schools, parents, and communities.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – As students prepare to return to classes following the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School (SJNHS), the City Schools Division here is calling for sustained mental health interventions, warning that the psychological effects of the tragedy could persist long after the incident if left unaddressed.

The Department of Education (DepEd) Tacloban Schools Division has underscored the need for continuous psychological support for students affected by the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School (SJNHS), saying recovery from trauma extends far beyond the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.

DepEd Tacloban Schools Division Senior Guidance Coordinator Julienne Rosa Saballa said students who underwent Psychological First Aid (PFA) immediately after the shooting should continue receiving follow-up interventions to help them recover emotionally and prevent long-term mental health problems.

She explained that while PFA is designed to stabilize the emotional responses of individuals following a traumatic event, healing is a gradual process that requires continuous monitoring and professional support.

“If these emotional responses are not addressed early, they may manifest later in adulthood as mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder,” Saballa said.

She noted that guidance personnel have already provided Psychological First Aid to affected students and school personnel, but emphasized that regular follow-up assessments remain necessary as learners gradually return to the classroom.

“Healing does not happen in one or two days. It is a process, which is why follow-up is necessary,” she said.

Saballa also urged parents to closely observe changes in their children’s behavior and seek assistance from the City Health Office or qualified mental health professionals if they notice signs of emotional distress or trauma.

The June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School left three students dead and injured 20 others, sending shockwaves through the school community and raising concerns over the long-term psychological impact on survivors, classmates, teachers, and families.

The tragedy has also highlighted the shortage of licensed guidance counselors in public schools, prompting DepEd to push for the full implementation of Republic Act No. 12080, or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act.

Saballa said only two of Tacloban City’s four public high schools have registered guidance counselors, while the remaining secondary schools and dozens of elementary schools rely on teachers assigned to perform guidance-related duties.

“The ideal ratio is one registered guidance counselor for every 500 students. At Leyte National High School, we are only two guidance counselors serving more than 8,000 students,” she said.

She explained that registered guidance counselors are licensed professionals who provide counseling, career guidance, crisis intervention, and mental health services that are vital to students’ overall well-being and the prevention of behavioral problems and school violence.
According to Saballa, the full implementation of Republic Act No. 12080 would create additional plantilla positions for school counselors, school counselor associates, and school division counselors. The law also mandates the establishment of care centers in every public basic education school to provide counseling services, mental health first aid, and preventive psychosocial programs.

As schools prepare for the resumption of classes, DepEd guidance counselors are also conducting orientation sessions for teachers to help them recognize and appropriately respond to students who may continue to experience trauma, anxiety, or emotional distress following the shooting.

Saballa said the combined support of schools, families, and mental health professionals will be crucial in helping affected learners safely transition back to the classroom while rebuilding their sense of security and well-being.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Police have filed two counts of kidnapping with double homicide against three men in connection with the abduction and killing of former Abuyog, Leyte Vice Mayor James Bohol and his son, Carlo, saying the evidence gathered is sufficient to support prosecution.

The charges were filed on Thursday, July 2, before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Abuyog against Mark James Taboy, 30; Kim Solayao, 27; and Reniel Galza, 24, all residents of Basey, Samar.

The three suspects are currently under police custody at the Mayorga Municipal Police Station after surrendering to authorities in Pasay City late Monday night, June 30.
Police said the filing of charges came less than a week after the crime, citing forensic evidence, witness testimonies, and the suspects’ movements before and after the incident as key pieces of evidence supporting the case.

Former vice mayor James Bohol, 60, and his 30-year-old son, Carlo, were reported missing after they were allegedly abducted from their warehouse in Mayorga, Leyte, on June 27.
Their bodies were found three days later in a ravine in Barangay Imelda, Silago, Southern Leyte, following an extensive search operation. Authorities later confirmed through forensic and medico-legal examinations that the recovered bodies were those of the missing father and son.

Leyte Police Provincial Director Col. Celerino Sacro said investigators believe the suspects were attempting to evade arrest after the killings.

“Based on the timeline, they were really planning to escape,” Sacro said during a media briefing on Thursday.

According to investigators, the victims were allegedly abducted in Mayorga, transported through Abuyog, and their bodies were later dumped in the mountainous area of Silago. Police tracked the suspects to Pasay City, where they eventually surrendered to local authorities.

Investigators have yet to determine why the suspects traveled to Pasay or whether they intended to leave Metro Manila.

The charges were filed despite claims made by Taboy in a circulating video that the deaths resulted from an act of self-defense and that there was no intention to kill the victims.
Leyte Police Provincial Office legal officer Lt. Col. Annaliza Centeno said the claim would ultimately be evaluated by the court.

“That is his defense, but it will be the court that will determine whether it was indeed an act of self-defense,” Centeno said.

Taboy alleged that Carlo Bohol had threatened to kill their families.

However, medico-legal findings showed that former vice mayor Bohol sustained three stab wounds to the neck, while his son suffered six stab wounds in the same area, underscoring the brutality of the attack.

Investigators declined to identify which of the three suspects allegedly inflicted the fatal wounds, saying the matter would be presented as part of the prosecution’s evidence during trial.

Police are continuing to investigate the motive behind the killings.

Centeno said one of the primary angles being pursued is an alleged unpaid loan that Taboy had obtained from the former vice mayor.

“That is one of the motives that we are considering,” she said, adding that investigators are also looking into other possible motives but declined to elaborate to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing investigation.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA, ROEL T. AMAZONA)