Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has called for stronger school safety and child protection measures as part of a comprehensive response to the mass shooting at San Jose National High School on 22 June, which claimed the lives of three students.

Romualdez identified several long-term interventions for schools during a consultative meeting with national government agencies, local officials, and mental health experts on Tuesday.

Among those present were representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Tingog Party-list Representatives Andrew Romualdez and Jude Acidre.

“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. 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,” Romualdez said.

During the meeting, three key initiatives were identified. The first is the creation of a Regional Psychosocial Volunteer Network, which will mobilize psychiatrists, psychologists, guidance counselors, and trained volunteers to provide psychosocial and mental health support to individuals affected by the incident.

The second is the development of a School Safety and Child Protection Program, which will enforce stricter safety protocols, child protection policies, and mechanisms to ensure student safety.

The third is the implementation of a Parent and Community Education Initiative aimed at reinforcing the role of parents and guardians, particularly in identifying behavioral concerns and promoting the mental well-being of young people.

“We now commit the respective departments, through their regional directors, to work as one team. Many families face challenges because parents are working, including overseas, leaving children with limited supervision. We have to address these realities,” Romualdez added.

He emphasized that the participation of concerned agencies is necessary to build a unified team that can sustain intervention programs and help prevent future acts of violence.