Leyte eyes mental health, child protection group after school shooting

[Updated June 30, 2026, 8:20 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — Eastern Visayas may soon have a network of mental health and child protection professionals to respond to students in distress and help prevent a repeat of last week’s school shooting in the island, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Tuesday.

This is meant to prevent a repeat of last week’s school shooting in the island, Romualdez said on Tuesday

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In a statement, he said a “regional rapid-response network” of volunteer psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers is being organized to promote mental wellness, child protection and violence prevention.

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“We have three immediate directions,” he said in Filipino.

“First, we will form a regional network of volunteer psychologists, psychiatrists, guidance counselors, social workers and other professionals who can be deployed right away in the event of such incidents,” he noted.

“Second, we will hold regular seminars for students, parents and teachers on mental wellness, child protection and violence prevention,” he noted.

“Third, we will strengthen coordination among all agencies to ensure faster response whenever children are in need of help,” he added.

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READ: Tacloban school shooting ‘hero’ laid to rest as family seeks justice

Authorities are raising security protocols following the June 22 gun attack in a Tacloban City campus that left three dead and at least 20 others injured. /apl /mr

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