SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing to expand the allowable use of the Special Education Fund (SEF) to cover school security measures, citing the recent rise in violent incidents on school campuses.

Under the proposed 21st Century School Boards Act or Senate Bill No. 53, Gatchalian seeks to amend existing rules governing the SEF to allow local government units (LGUs) to use the fund not only for classrooms, school facilities, and educational programs but also to hire trained security personnel and implement other measures to protect students, teachers, and school communities.

The measure aims to strengthen the role of LGUs in addressing pressing education concerns, particularly campus safety, amid growing public concern over incidents of violence in schools.

Gatchalian said the proposal was prompted by recent cases of campus violence, including the fatal stabbing of a 13-year-old student by a 14-year-old classmate at Las Piñas National High School.

“Classrooms and school buildings alone are not enough if we cannot guarantee the safety of our students. If we allocate funds for education, we should also invest in keeping our schools secure because children cannot learn in an environment where they are afraid,” Gatchalian said.

He stressed that a safe and secure learning environment is fundamental to quality education, noting that students cannot fully participate in classroom instruction if they fear for their safety.

The proposed legislation would broaden the traditional use of the SEF, which is currently limited to infrastructure, educational equipment, and other school-related expenditures, by allowing investments in campus security and other safety initiatives.

It also seeks to modernize the functions of local school boards and provide LGUs with greater flexibility in addressing the evolving needs of schools and learners.

Expanding the allowable use of the SEF through amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act No. 7160 is included in the priority legislative agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening education governance while enhancing the safety and welfare of students nationwide.