Protecting children from school violence has become a priority for the Cebu Provincial Board, with lawmakers considering measures on responsible firearm ownership, gun safety, and student mental health following the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City.
Vice Governor Hilario Davide III said the proposed measures are part of a broader effort to identify legislative interventions that could help prevent similar incidents involving children and schools.
Board Member Glenn Soco said provincial lawmakers are planning to discuss possible legislation aimed at strengthening the protection of students.
“We’re planning to talk to the Provincial Board members regarding the situation on what legislative measures we can pass to safeguard our children,” Soco said in a phone interview.
He said the board will first review existing national firearm laws to determine what local measures can legally complement them.
“I raised the issue about gun ownership and safety,” he said. “We will see the possibility to legislate, possibly come up with an ordinance because the ordinance has penal provisions.”
Soco explained that the goal is not to duplicate national firearm laws but to reinforce responsible gun ownership through local policies that promote safe handling and accountability.
He also said the recent tragedy highlighted the need to address factors beyond physical security.
Among the proposals he supports is regulating students’ cellphone use in schools, noting that technology can be used to limit access to certain applications during school hours.
“I am for regulating the use of cellphones in the schools. It can even be done through technology wherein certain applications may be barred from the use of children,” he said.
Soco also called for stronger guidance and counseling services and expanded mental health support for students.
“I am also for pushing for more guidance, counseling services and mental health support among our children. I think that should be reinforced,” he said.
On proposals by some local governments to restrict cellphone use in schools, Soco said the Provincial Board respects the authority of local government units to adopt policies based on their local situation.
“Our position is always to respect the actions of the local government units because they are the ones on the ground to understand the situation firsthand,” he said, adding that the province may later study whether policies should be harmonized through consultations with component LGUs.
Soco emphasized that responses to school violence should be carefully studied and not driven solely by emotion.
“What’s just happened is very, very tragic, but it really requires a very thorough and carefully studied approach,” he said. “There has to be a whole-of-government approach regarding this because this is protecting our children. But the problem doesn’t just start with the schools; it also starts ngadto sa panimalay.”
He added that an initial review showed the Province of Cebu has no existing ordinance specifically regulating cellphone use in schools or promoting responsible firearm ownership and safety, making both areas possible priorities for future legislation.
Photo courtesy of Beyond Legislation
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