Pasig Lone District Rep. Roman Romulo said protecting young learners is not solely the responsibility of government agencies, stressing that efforts to ensure students' safety should begin at home.

Romulo acknowledged that some parents may face challenges in closely supervising their children due to work and other responsibilities. However, he emphasized the importance of monitoring the content children consume daily.

“This is a whole community effort. Learners spend a majority of their time at home. Families need to step up. Let us try to check on our children — what they read and what they look at on their laptop, tablet, or cellphone,” he said.

The lawmaker also underscored the need for parents to maintain close coordination with schools, saying such collaboration could help reduce incidents of violence among students.

His remarks came in the wake of the 22 June school shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where two Grade 9 students allegedly killed two of their fellow students and injured 20 others.

Authorities have yet to fully determine the motive behind the attack, although some reports have linked the incident to a combination of online gaming influences and bullying.

While not dismissing those possibilities, Romulo noted that investigators have yet to complete their probe and establish the actual cause of the incident.

“The investigation is not yet finished. It is not yet known if it was bullying or mental wellness,” the lawmaker said.

Apart from the role of parents, Romulo said there may be a need to introduce measures that would complement existing laws. However, he stressed that effective implementation of current policies should remain a priority.

He cited the Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) program as an example of an existing initiative that should be enforced more aggressively and proactively.

“There are existing laws. The Good Manners and Right Conduct law is there; it just has to be enforced aggressively and proactively. Let us ensure that the teaching of Good Manners and Right Conduct is done correctly,” he said.

Romulo also revealed that the government is working to deploy more guidance counselors and school counselors in educational institutions, saying they play a critical role in assessing and assisting students and teachers experiencing emotional distress.

He added that counselors can help identify and address inappropriate behavior among students before it escalates into more serious incidents.