The Philippine National Police (PNP) is looking into the possibility of establishing help desks for bullying-related complaints in support of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of learners.

PNP Chief P/Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. disclosed on Thursday that the initiative is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla for concerned government agencies to ensure that schools remain safe spaces conducive to learning and development.

Nartatez acknowledged that bullying requires immediate intervention to prevent it from escalating into more serious offenses or crimes.

He said the move is part of the PNP’s support for DepEd, which has been implementing measures to protect learners. Among the recent proposals are mandatory bag inspections and the creation of school counselor positions.

The school counselor positions were approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and are expected to strengthen the mental health services available to students.

For its part, the PNP said the initiative could be reinforced through help desks staffed by personnel from the Women and Children Protection Desk, which is present in every police station.

“Our coordination with DepEd is continuously being done to provide the best protection to our learners and to make sure that all schools are safe and conducive to learning,” Nartatez said.

He assured the public that the PNP would actively participate in efforts to combat bullying, particularly in schools.

“We will strengthen our anti-bullying campaign through close coordination with other concerned agencies and offices,” he said.