EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that the signing of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act into law will ensure students are both academically equipped and mentally healthy.

“This is a vital step forward in ensuring our learners are not only academically equipped but also mentally healthy,” Angara said.

“We thank President Marcos and the members of Congress for supporting our efforts to build a system that prioritizes our children’s holistic development,” he added.

The law, signed on Monday, aims to strengthen mental health programs in schools and create new plantilla positions for school counselors.

The new law mandates the establishment of a comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Program for all public and private basic education institutions, including provisions for out-of-school children in special cases.

This initiative promotes mental health awareness, addresses mental health concerns, and enhances suicide prevention efforts in schools.

“When our learners and school personnel are mentally healthy, academic performance improves, absenteeism decreases, and a culture of compassion and understanding flourishes,” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said.

Lawmakers, led by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, along with DepEd officials, attended the ceremonial signing of the law in Malacañang.