SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to immediately begin hiring School Counselor Associates following the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) approval of the qualification standards for the newly created positions under the country’s school-based mental health law.

Gatchalian, the principal author and sponsor of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, welcomed the CSC’s move, saying it marks a major step toward fully implementing the School-Based Mental Health Program.

He said the approved qualification standards would help address the shortage of qualified professionals who will provide mental health services and psychosocial support in schools.

With the standards now in place, Gatchalian called on DepEd to promptly fill the 10,000 School Counselor Associate I positions funded under the 2026 national budget.

The hiring is backed by a P2-billion allocation under this year’s General Appropriations Act.

The Senate leader stressed that the immediate deployment of school-based mental health personnel is critical as schools continue to prioritize the safety, well-being, and overall welfare of learners.

He added that the country urgently needs trained professionals to help promote, protect, and support students’ mental health through timely school-based interventions.