SENATOR Pia Cayetano has expressed her support for the ratification of the bicameral conference report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 2200 and House Bill No. 6574, otherwise known as the Basic Education Mental Health.

Cayetano said the measure was very timely, especially in the light of recent reports identifying the Philippines as the bullying capital of Southeast Asia.

“No less than our former colleague and now Secretary of the Department of Education has taken note of the lack of guidance school counselors and this is something that we had taken up in the budget of DepEd which this representation has chaired for so many years…and so the timing wouldn’t be more perfect because we really need more guidance counselors,” Cayetano said.

The Senate has ratified the bicameral conference report on the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act.

The program seeks to promote and ensure the mental health and well-being of all learners in public and private basic education schools across the country.

The bill aims to establish a Mental Health and Well-Being Office in every Schools Division Office, which will serve as a dedicated body to safeguard and promote the mental health and well-being of all learners and DepEd personnel under its jurisdiction.