BACOLOD CITY — The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Bacolod City has intensified its push for stronger child protection policies in schools while also calling for a review of the country’s juvenile justice law, following a series of recent violent incidents involving minors that have raised alarm nationwide.
During its regular session on Wednesday, June 24, the City Council approved a resolution urging concerned agencies and educational institutions to fully implement and strengthen the Bacolod City Anti-Bullying Ordinance, alongside broader school safety and child protection measures across all public and private schools in the city.
The resolution, authored by Caesar Distrito and co-authored by Danna Marie Barzo, Celia Flor, and Psyche Marie Sy, was prompted by recent school violence incidents, including the fatal shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City and separate stabbing incidents in other parts of the country.
Councilors said the developments underscore the urgent need for proactive intervention rather than reactive responses.
“The tragedy in Tacloban reminds us that child protection cannot be taken for granted… Our Anti-Bullying Ordinance must not remain merely a law on paper,” Distrito said.
The resolution calls on the Department of Education – Bacolod City Division, public and private schools, the Bacolod City Police Office, Department of Social Services and Development, City Health Office, Public Order and Safety Office, and other concerned agencies to strengthen anti-bullying programs, improve campus security protocols, and conduct a citywide assessment of existing child protection initiatives.
Among the recommended measures are the review of school anti-bullying policies, strengthening of Child Protection Committees, enhanced guidance and counseling services, establishment of confidential reporting systems for bullying and threats, regular mental health and conflict resolution seminars, and stricter enforcement of rules against dangerous weapons on campuses.
Councilor Barzo stressed that bullying extends beyond simple peer conflict, noting its long-term psychological impact. “Early intervention, effective counseling, active parental involvement, and coordinated action are essential in protecting our children,” she said.
Flor, meanwhile, emphasized that schools must remain safe spaces, underscoring shared responsibility among families, institutions, and government agencies. Sy also pushed for stronger mental health support systems to help identify and address problems before they escalate into violence.
In a parallel development, the SP also saw renewed calls to revisit Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, as amended by Republic Act 10630, amid concerns over violent offenses involving minors.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, in a privilege speech, urged policymakers to determine whether existing laws sufficiently address serious and deliberate acts of violence committed by young offenders.
“In a single week, at the very opening of the school year, our classrooms became crime scenes,” Espino said, citing the Tacloban shooting and similar incidents elsewhere.
He emphasized that while rehabilitation remains central to juvenile justice, stronger safeguards may be needed to protect communities from grave offenses.
Espino also proposed a comprehensive school safety agenda for Bacolod City, including the establishment of school-based mental health programs, deployment of counselors and psychologists, training for teachers on psychological first aid and threat assessment, intensified anti-bullying enforcement, creation of a City Education Safety Council, and stronger campaigns against loose firearms.
The City Council said the twin actions reflect a broader commitment to building safer and more inclusive learning environments, while ensuring that both preventive systems and legal frameworks keep pace with emerging youth safety concerns./PN
