THE House of Representatives is looking to sustain funding for student mental health and child protection programs in the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, amid renewed concerns over violence in schools following the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, vice chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the recent shooting underscored the need to continue programs funded under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
“Definitely because of the recent school shooting na na-experience natin, nakita natin, I think these programs should continue,” Alonto Adiong said during an online press briefing Thursday.
He said the growing incidence of violence in both public and private schools made it more urgent for the government to strengthen programs addressing students’ mental health, bullying and school safety.
Two junior high school students, including the alleged shooter, were killed in the Ateneo de Zamboanga University shooting, highlighting concerns over the safety and well-being of learners.
Utilization, hiring under scrutiny
Alonto Adiong said Congress provided P2.37 billion in the 2026 Department of Education (DepEd) budget for the school-based mental health program, which includes funding for additional personnel who can conduct regular assessments and provide assistance to students.
The 2026 budget also provided for 10,000 School Counselor Associate positions to expand mental health services in schools.
The program, he said, is designed not only to address students’ mental health concerns but also to help schools prevent and respond to bullying and violence.
Lawmakers, however, want DepEd to account for the utilization of the funds and the pace of hiring before determining whether the program should receive additional funding in 2027.
“We hope that we can actually be able to be appraised with the ongoing program from DepEd, whether this allocation, this funding has been utilized, how many of the non-teaching personnel have been hired out of the 10,000 intended new items to be created,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said the utilization rate and the number of personnel hired will be key factors in deciding whether existing allocations should be increased next year.
“We also like to find out kung how much has been utilized starting this year, and how many have been hired to supply the need for a guidance counselor per school all over the country,” he said.
Alonto Adiong stressed that billions of pesos allocated for student welfare must translate into actual personnel and services on the ground.
“We would like to know how speedy the hiring and how speedy the implementation of these programs. We’re talking of how many billions of pesos,” he said.
He nevertheless assured that the school-based mental health initiative would remain a continuing program regardless of the final funding level approved for 2027.
“Definitely what I can tell you right now is that this will be a continuing program,” he said.
Child protection, school security
Alonto Adiong also cited P89.92 billion allocated under the 2026 DepEd budget for the child protection program, which aims to safeguard learners from abuse.
As the House begins deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget, lawmakers will also assess whether schools have sufficient resources to strengthen physical security.
Alonto Adiong said schools may engage security agencies as an administrative matter, but their maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) may need to be reviewed to determine whether these are adequate to cover security requirements nationwide.
He said additional MOOE funding may be considered if necessary to allow schools to hire security personnel and implement measures to prevent similar incidents.
“The question is whether it is enough to cover all schools all over the country,” he said.
For Alonto Adiong, the Zamboanga shooting reflects a broader challenge that extends beyond the security of a single campus.
“Hindi lang ito problema ng isang eskwelahan. Ito po ay malaking challenge para sa ating society pagdating po sa pagsugpo ng gun violence sa ating educational system,” he said.
The House is expected to scrutinize DepEd’s implementation and spending performance as it determines the appropriate level of funding for student mental health, child protection and school security programs in the 2027 national budget.
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