Yamsuan prods swift passage of School Safety Act

Parañaque 2nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan has urged fellow lawmakers in the House of Representatives to swiftly act on a measure that aims to strengthen and ensure sustained funding for the Department of Education (DepEd)’s school safety programs.

At the same time, Yamsuan urged local government units (LGUs) to utilize portions of their Special Education Fund (SEF) to help address the security needs of public schools in their respective communities.

Yamsuan issued the twin calls in the wake of the latest incident of on-campus violence, this time at the Banga National High School in South Cotabato, that left three students dead and several others injured. The tragedy is the ninth case of violence in and outside schools reported in a span of only three months.

“Ipinaaabot po natin ang ating pakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng mga estudyanteng naging biktima ng karahasang ito No child should enter a classroom in fear. We need to institutionalize a comprehensive measure now to ensure that our elementary schools, high schools and other basic education institutions are safe and remain conducive environments for learning,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan’s proposed Comprehensive School Safety Act outlined in House Bill (HB) 10864 seeks to establish, maintain and periodically update a National Comprehensive School Safety Framework, which prescribes the standards for school safety plans, including the necessary infrastructure and security measures required to implement them across all public and private educational institutions.

The proposed comprehensive school safety framework under HB 10864 also sets standards and protocols on learner protection, mental health support, violence prevention and anti-bullying mechanisms.

HB 10864 and other similar measures remain pending at the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, while the Senate version of the Comprehensive School Safety Act has already been approved by the chamber on second reading last week.

“We urge our colleagues in the House of Representatives to act fast in passing the proposed Comprehensive School Safety Act on our end so that we can soon put in place a system that would protect learners and school personnel from all forms of abuse and violence in and outside our schools,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan has also expressed support for a bill filed by Speaker Bojie Dy and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos that aim to impose greater accountability on firearms owners. Yamsuan said this measure will complement initiatives to improve security in schools.

“Measures to strengthen responsible gun ownership go hand-in-hand with our goal of promoting a safe school culture and a zero-tolerance policy against bullying and violence through a comprehensive school safety framework,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan said LGUs can also mobilize resources through the SEF to assist the DepEd in improving safety measures in public schools.

“Kailangang magtulungan tayo. Maging ang mga LGUs ay maaring kumilos at maglaan ng pondo para sa hiring ng mga security personnel at paglalalagay ng mga CCTV sa ating mga public schools gamit ang kani-kanilang Special Education Fund,” said Yamsuan, a former Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Created through Republic Act (RA) 5447, the SEF is constituted from the proceeds of an additional one percent tax on the assessed value of real property collected by LGUs.

Yamsuan pointed out that a joint circular issued in 2025 by the DepEd, Department of Budget and Management (DBM)), Department of Finance (DOF) and the DILG on the use of the SEF now includes the acquisition of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and the hiring of security guards as allowable SEF expenses.

A study done by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) found that the SEF remains underutilized by LGUs. From 2018 to 2022, the unspent SEF of LGUs amounted to P15 billion.

“Even just a small portion of the SEF can be used by LGUs to support programs on school safety. Ensuring our schools remain safe and secure is a shared responsibility,” Yamsuan said. ###