SENATOR Bam Aquino is calling for the immediate passage of the proposed School Safety Act, saying stronger measures are needed to ensure that schools nationwide remain safe spaces for students.

During the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education on Thursday, Aquino stressed that protecting learners from violence and other threats requires an immediate and coordinated response from the government and the broader community.

“Schools must be safe, students must be safe, and the School Safety Act must be made a priority by our government,” Aquino said.

He emphasized that ensuring school safety should not rest solely on the Department of Education (DepEd) or individual schools.

“School safety is not the responsibility of the Department of Education or the school alone. This is a whole-of-nation responsibility. When the safety of our children is at stake, we must have only one goal: To ensure that every school in our country is a place of learning, of dreams, and of safety,” he added.

Aquino said the recent school shooting in Tacloban City, which resulted in the deaths of three students and injuries to more than 20 others, should serve as a wake-up call for lawmakers and government agencies to strengthen school security rather than treat the incident as an isolated case.

The senator also called for expanding the proposed legislation beyond anti-bullying measures by including comprehensive security reforms to address the growing threat of campus violence.

Among the key provisions Aquino is pushing are stronger on-campus and off-campus security measures, wider installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems and other appropriate security technologies, improved emergency response protocols, and enhanced mental health and psychosocial support services for students and teachers.

He likewise underscored the need for closer coordination among local government units (LGUs), law enforcement agencies, and educational institutions to strengthen school security and prevent future incidents of violence.