SENATE Committee on Basic Education chair Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday expressed strong support for the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on a school bullying case.

Gatchalian said the decision sends a powerful message to educational institutions: they will be held accountable for failing to provide students with a safe learning environment.

“The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on a bullying incident sends a clear message to our schools—they will be held accountable for failing to give our learners a safe environment,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

The senator also stressed the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to protect students. These include the full implementation of values education or Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC), stronger engagement of parents, and the rollout of school-based mental health programs.

“No student should be harmed or lose their life before we take action,” he emphasized.

“We must act now to ensure the safety of every learner in our schools,” he added.

The ruling is widely seen as a landmark decision that could push schools to strengthen their anti-bullying policies and prioritize student welfare more proactively.