Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called for heightened school security, increased police visibility and immediate student mental health interventions following a June campus shooting in Tacloban City that left three students dead.

In a Senate manifestation Wednesday, Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth, said the 22 June tragedy at San Jose National High School must be treated as a youth welfare and public health crisis rather than a simple law enforcement issue.

Two minors are currently in custody for the attack, which also injured several other students.

“What makes this tragedy even more heartbreaking is that the alleged perpetrators are themselves minors,” Go said. “We were all shocked, and we do not want the shocking incidents that happen in other countries to happen here in our nation.”

Go cited other recent violent incidents on or near school grounds, including knife attacks in General Trias and Cavite City, and a fatal shooting near Kolehiyo ng Pantukan in Davao de Oro.

He said these events should prompt a sweeping review of how minors access firearms and the potential influence of online content.

To deter campus violence, Go urged the government to deploy police officers to secure school perimeters during arrival and dismissal hours, citing that personnel would be better utilized on the streets than in administrative offices.

He stressed that any security measure must balance student safety with academic freedom.

The senator also stressed the urgent need to expand school-based mental health services, pointing out a severe deficit of professionals in the country.

Citing data from a previous congressional hearing, Go said the Philippines had only 4,069 licensed guidance counselors as of 2022, far below the estimated 47,000 needed to achieve an ideal student-to-counselor ratio nationwide.

Additionally, he noted that the country has only about 50 practicing child psychiatrists.

“We really have a crisis in terms of our supply of mental health professionals,” Go said.

He pointed to Republic Act 12080, the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which allows schools to hire school counselor associates to help fill the personnel gap.

Go also cited he filed Senate Bill 176, which seeks to mandate mental health offices and 24/7 hotlines across all public higher education institutions.

Addressing separate concerns about youth culture, Go advised against a blanket ban on online gaming, suggesting instead that the government focus on promoting responsible gaming, strengthening parental oversight, and preventing criminal groups from exploiting digital platforms.