SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has expressed support for three proposed measures aimed at strengthening the protection of Filipino children in schools and online amid recent incidents of violence involving young people.

Pangilinan backed Senate Bill No. 2426, or the Comprehensive School Safety Act; Senate Bill No. 1819, or the SAGIP Bata Act; and Senate Bill No. 2424, or the Child Online Safety and Protection Act.

The Senate has approved the Comprehensive School Safety Act and the SAGIP Bata Act on third and final reading, while the Child Online Safety and Protection Act remains under plenary consideration.

Pangilinan said the government and academic institutions must act with urgency, wisdom and compassion to better protect children from violence, exploitation and other threats to their safety and well-being.

As a parent, Pangilinan said schools should remain safe spaces where children can learn and grow without fear, citing recent cases of gun violence, bullying and student altercations that have circulated on social media.

He also cited findings from the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which showed that 47.2 percent of Filipino 15-year-olds experienced bullying at least a few times a month, while 31 percent were frequently bullied and 13.9 percent reported experiencing cyberbullying.

Pangilinan emphasized that school safety goes beyond security infrastructure such as gates, guards, CCTV cameras and metal detectors, saying it must also cover the emotional, psychosocial and digital well-being of learners.

The Comprehensive School Safety Act requires schools to develop child-appropriate safety plans and strengthens coordination between schools and parents to safeguard students’ welfare, security and overall well-being.

Pangilinan said stronger safeguards are needed to ensure that children are protected not only from physical threats but also from bullying, exploitation and other risks that may affect their development and ability to learn.