New counselor posts boost school mental health services – Angara

MANILA, Philippines — The newly created school counselor posts approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) will strengthen the mental health services available to students, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said on Wednesday.

According to a DepEd statement, the positions were created under the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, or Republic Act No. 12080, which Angara stressed highlights the government’s continued commitment to strengthening mental health awareness, prevention, and support services for learners through comprehensive school-based programs.

The CSC, through Resolution No. 2600920, approved the qualification standards for the positions of schools division counselor (SDC), school counselor I–IV, and school counselor associate (SCA) I–V.

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“The approval of the qualification standards is a major milestone in the implementation of RA 12080. It establishes the professional standards for our school counseling workforce and brings us closer to ensuring that learners across the country have greater access to quality mental health and psychosocial support services in our schools,” Angara said.

“By rolling out this dedicated workforce of counselors and counselor associates, we are taking a concrete step toward fulfilling the directive of President [Ferdinand] Bongbong Marcos [Jr.] to transform our schools into centers of genuine care, protection, and well-being,” he added.

With the approval of the qualification standards, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) may now create 10,000 school counselor associate I positions for deployment to public schools beginning school year 2026–2027.

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According to the DepEd statement, these positions represent the first phase of implementing the school counseling workforce established under RA No. 12080.

DepEd will then prepare the necessary implementation guidelines to begin recruitment, appointment, and deployment of qualified school counselor associates in accordance with civil service laws, rules, and regulations.

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As DepEd continues to prioritize learner well-being, Angara said the Department would remain committed to working closely with partner agencies to ensure the timely staffing and operationalization of these crucial mental health positions. /atm

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