SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has expressed deep concern over the reported harrowing experiences of students from Bestlink College of the Philippines during an off-campus activity in Bataan.

In a statement, Gatchalian emphasized the risks posed by poorly planned school activities and called for stricter oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The senator stressed that field trips should provide safe and enriching educational experiences. However, the recent incident in Bataan has exposed lapses in ensuring student welfare.

“Students deserve to feel safe and supported during field trips, which are meant to enhance their education. The failure to ensure students’ well-being is unacceptable,” Gatchalian stated.

He also noted that this was not the first time Bestlink College had been involved in off-campus incidents leading to mishaps.

Gatchalian urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to act swiftly in identifying those responsible and imposing necessary sanctions. He stressed the importance of accountability to prevent negligence from putting students at risk in the future.

Beyond this case, the senator called on CHED and other higher education institutions to reassess existing policies on off-campus activities. He highlighted the need for stricter guidelines to ensure student safety, emphasizing that schools must prioritize responsible planning and supervision before allowing any educational trips.

While field trips are valuable learning experiences, Gatchalian emphasized that they should never compromise student safety. He urged all educational institutions to exercise greater caution and accountability, ensuring no student is ever placed in harm’s way due to negligence.