Business · Philippines Bureau
Philippines allocates P802M for school counselors amid campus violence concerns
The Marcos administration is proposing to spend P802 million in 2027 to recruit over 2,000 guidance counselors for public schools as part of efforts to enhance mental health support for students. The allocation, included in the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for next year, aims to address rising concerns over campus violence.
LSN Philippines ·
The funding initiative would create approximately 1,800 new counselor positions in state educational institutions across the country, according to House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, who announced the proposal on Sunday. The recruitment drive represents a significant expansion of the current guidance counselor workforce in the Department of Education.
The proposed budget allocation reflects growing concerns among policymakers about student mental health and campus safety. Libanan emphasized that strengthening psychological support services in schools is essential to addressing behavioral issues and preventing violence among the student population.
The P802-million allotment represents part of the broader P7.2-trillion national budget framework for 2027 currently under legislative review. If approved, the initiative would enhance the availability of mental health professionals in public schools, where access to counseling services has been limited in many areas.
Education officials have indicated that the expansion of guidance counselor positions would help schools better identify and support at-risk students, while also providing interventions to promote overall student well-being and safer learning environments.