By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The City Council here has called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to move immediately on the implementation of school-based mental health programs in the city’s public schools, citing growing concerns over the pressures and threats confronting students.
The 13th City Council approved Draft Resolution No. 10115, principally authored by Councilor Luciano Lou M. Veloso, urging DepEd to fully implement Republic Act No. 12080, which provides for the establishment of mental health and well-being offices and care centers in educational institutions.
Veloso said the measure is intended to address an existing mandate that, despite being in place, has yet to be fully carried out at the school level.
“Ito po’y simpleng resolusyon lamang na nag-aayon na dati na pala tayong merong mental health program para sa ating mga estudyante sa eskwela na hindi nai-implementa,” Veloso said during his sponsorship speech.
“Ang layunin po ng resolusyon na ito na ma-implement ng eskwela ang dati nang meron tayong mental health program.”
The resolution gained broad support from members of the council, with student counterparts participating in the session as part of Boys and Girls Week and sharing their experiences and observations about mental health concerns on their campuses.
One student leader from Esteban Abada High School pointed to security incidents, including bomb threats and school shooting incidents, as sources of fear among students.
“Simula pa lang po nung school year natin ay nagkaroon na po agad ng mga insidente na nagkaroon po ng mga bomb threats at school shooting incidents… it left many of us with fear, uncertainty, and countless what-ifs,” the student said.
Other students cited bullying, pressure from parents and expectations surrounding academic performance as among the factors affecting their mental well-being.
The student counterpart to Councilor Eric Ian Nieva said students can experience bullying not only from fellow students but also from teachers, while high parental expectations can add to the pressure.
“Ang isa rin po sa mga problema kung bakit nagkakaroon ng mental health problems ang mga estudyante… ay meron pong pambubulas galing sa kapwa estudyante at mga guro, at mataas na expectation ng magulang,” the student said.
Another student counterpart representing District 1 stressed the need for schools to create environments where students feel safe, accepted and included.
“There would never really be such a problem na made-develop if those students feel belonged sa school… We should ensure that our school is a safe area for every student so that they will not feel neglected,” the student said.
Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, who presided over the session, allowed the student counterparts to speak on the measure, emphasizing the importance of hearing directly from young people affected by the issue.
“Pumayag po tayo buksan itong item na ito para sa kanila para marinig natin ang kanilang boses because after all, sila talaga ang may sakop ng concern na ito given na alam niyo naman po ang pinakanatatamaan ng mental health issues are within the ages of 15 to 29 years old,” Atienza said.
Atienza also described mental health as a personal advocacy and urged the council to ensure that its actions result in concrete support rather than statements of concern alone.
“As I always say, it’s a personal advocacy of mine to really push for mental health because of my pamangkin na si Eman. And I wish that this is not simply just lip service… just to say na may ginagawa tayo o may sinasabi tayo na suporta pagdating sa mental health,” she said.
She also echoed the students’ reminder that young people are the country’s hope and called for continued support for them.
“Dahil sanarinig ko ng ilang beses na sinabi kanina ng mga student counterparts, ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan, and with that, habang narito tayo, tayuan natin sila,” Atienza said.
With the approval of Draft Resolution No. 10115, the Manila City Council is seeking to push the implementation of existing mental health provisions in public schools and strengthen the mechanisms available to students who need support.
ia/xf
