Go vows budget scrutiny over school mental health

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said he will scrutinize the education budget to ensure funding for school counselors and mental health personnel amid a severe shortage, with fewer than 1,000 registered guidance counselors serving more than 45,000 schools.

DepEd Undersecretary Willie Cabral said about 5,000 guidance counselors were registered nationwide as of 31 January, but fewer than 1,000 were serving under DepEd.

Go said funding must translate into positions that are filled and deployed, not merely created on paper.

The government authorized 10,000 School Counselor Associate positions for 2026. DepEd said 9,641 had been published, with 6,968 under assessment and 2,469 still open.

Go also called for full implementation of Republic Act 12080, or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, and said Congress must ensure appropriations result in actual services reaching students.