SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian renewed his call for the passage of the Comprehensive School Safety Act following the recent shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.

Gatchalian said the proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 1110, would establish a National Comprehensive School Safety Framework to guide schools in preventing, responding to, and recovering from safety threats and violent incidents.

Under the bill, the Department of Education, in coordination with local government units and other government agencies, would lead the development and regular updating of the national framework.

The measure would also require every school to prepare and annually update a School Safety Plan and School Safety Handbook containing emergency procedures, school policies, learner support services, and a code of conduct outlining disciplinary and restorative interventions.

“Reactive response is not enough. We need to be proactive by identifying threats, preventing incidents before they happen, and ensuring every school is a safe place for learners,” Gatchalian said.