Manila: The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has issued a call to action for enhanced family support systems, mental health services, and youth development programs in response to rising concerns about school violence. The commission emphasized the crucial roles parents, schools, and the community play in providing guidance and identifying early risks to prevent such incidents.
According to Philippines News Agency, the CPD highlighted in a social media post on Friday that the prevention of school violence starts within the home, while also underscoring the necessity of community and institutional support. The CPD stated that school violence is not just an issue of law enforcement or school discipline but is also a family, developmental, mental health, and community issue that requires a comprehensive societal response.
The commission urged the public to reflect on the causes and prevention of violence following recent incidents of on-campus violence that resulted in the loss of young lives and injuries to several students. The CPD noted these tragedies as a call to action for all Filipinos and stressed the importance of identifying risks early and providing necessary guidance and support to young individuals before issues escalate into violence.
The CPD expressed condolences to the victims and their families while emphasizing that prevention should be a collective priority. The commission stated that prevention starts long before a crisis unfolds and is rooted in families that foster nurturing environments promoting respect, empathy, self-discipline, and peaceful conflict resolution. It outlined the responsibilities of parenthood as extending beyond material needs to include emotional presence, open communication, recognizing behavioral changes, and assisting adolescents in navigating the challenges of growing up.
The CPD pointed out that adolescence is a critical stage of human development, characterized by rapid emotional, psychological, and social changes, compounded by peer and social media pressures. To assist adolescents, the commission called for increased investments in programs that build emotional resilience, life skills, healthy relationships, and sound decision-making.
Additionally, the CPD urged schools to enhance guidance and counseling services, psychosocial support programs, anti-bullying initiatives, and referral mechanisms to identify learners experiencing emotional distress or behavioral risks. The commission also encouraged parents and guardians to guide their children's responsible use of social media, addressing cyberbullying, online behavior, and digital content consumption.
The CPD called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, local government units, schools, health providers, faith-based organizations, civil society groups, the private sector, and local communities. It emphasized the importance of accessible mental health services, positive parenting initiatives, youth development programs, and robust school-family-community partnerships.
The commission concluded by underscoring that preventing violence entails creating environments where every child feels valued and allowed to thrive, and where every family receives support. It asserted that every adolescent deserves more than protection from violence-they deserve families that communicate, schools that care, communities that listen, and institutions that act before warning signs become irreversible loss.
