Cebu City is being urged to review and strengthen school safety and violence prevention measures following a string of violent incidents in educational institutions nationwide.
Councilor Paul Labra, chairman of the committee on public safety, called for a comprehensive assessment of campus security protocols during a privilege speech at the Cebu City Council session on June 23.
Labra said the city must take a proactive stance in safeguarding schools amid recent stabbing and shooting incidents involving students, citing the need to restore public confidence in learning environments.
“Every morning, parents send their children to school with trust in their hearts. They trust that their children will be protected. They trust that classrooms will be places where young minds can learn, grow, and pursue their dreams,” Labra said.
“However, when violence enters educational institutions, that trust is shaken,” he added.
He pointed to several recent cases that have heightened national concern over school safety, including a June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left three students dead and 20 others injured.
Police said 15 victims sustained gunshot wounds, while others were hurt during the panic that followed. The two suspects, aged 14 and 15, are now under the custody of social welfare authorities while investigations continue.
Labra also cited earlier incidents, including a knife attack at Bethel Academy in General Trias, Cavite on June 16 that injured seven students, and a separate stabbing incident at Cavite National High School involving a senior high school student days later.
He said these events underscore the need to look beyond law enforcement responses and address deeper social factors contributing to school violence.
“School violence is not merely a security issue. It is often the manifestation of deeper societal challenges,” he said.
According to Labra, contributing factors may include bullying, mental health concerns, family problems, substance abuse, peer pressure, social isolation, and exposure to harmful online content.
“School violence rarely emerges without warning,” he said.
“These are challenges that require more than disciplinary action. They require prevention. They require intervention. They require collaboration. And most importantly, they require leadership.”
Labra emphasized that Cebu City, as a major education hub, carries the responsibility of ensuring that schools remain safe spaces for students from Cebu and neighboring provinces.
To address the issue, he moved for the matter to be referred to the committees on education, health, and public order for a joint study and stakeholder consultation.
The proposed review would involve the Department of Education, private schools, parent-teacher associations, mental health professionals, guidance counselors, youth groups, barangay officials, and law enforcement agencies.
The study aims to evaluate existing safety measures, identify gaps, and craft possible policy and legislative interventions covering campus security, anti-bullying programs, mental health support systems, and community-based prevention mechanisms.
“Cebu City can be proactive rather than reactive,” Labra said.
He stressed that school safety requires coordinated action among families, schools, communities, and government institutions.
“Every child deserves to learn without fear; every teacher deserves to teach in safe and supportive environments,” he said, adding that prevention must be prioritized over reaction.
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