EDUCATION Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara assured lawmakers that the Department of Education is stepping up efforts to address bullying and the growing mental health crisis among students.

During DepEd’s budget briefing at the House of Representatives, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel raised concerns over rising cases of bullying, violence, and mental health issues in schools, pointing to the shortage of guidance counselors as a critical gap that government must urgently address.

Angara acknowledged the challenge, noting that strict requirements for guidance counselor positions, such as a master’s degree, have limited the supply of qualified applicants.

To bridge the gap, Angara said the 2026 National Expenditure Program includes funding for 10,000 new school counselor associate positions, in addition to the 5,800 posts created in 2025. DepEd will also implement a “scrap-and-build” strategy to convert vacant counselor slots into associate positions that no longer require a master’s degree.

A total of ₱2.038 billion is earmarked for the program, alongside partnerships with other agencies and civil society groups.

DepEd is likewise strengthening peer counseling initiatives, recognizing that many students are more comfortable sharing their struggles with fellow learners. Teachers will undergo training through the National Educators Academy of the Philippines on positive discipline, child protection, psychological first aid, and online courses on learner rights and protection.

“This is a serious concern we are committed to act on,” Angara said, stressing that tackling bullying and mental health issues is essential to creating safe and nurturing schools.