Special budget for CCTVs in public schools eyed to curb bullying

A proposal seeking to allocate special budget for the installation of CCTVs inside public schools to prevent bullying has been floated in a Senate hearing Tuesday.

Senate Basic Education Committee chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian made the proposal as he led the panel’s investigation into the recent cases of bullying in several high schools in the Philippines.

“Maybe it’s about time to already allocate a separate budget for CCTV and I will move for the 2026 budget will include a separate item for CCTVs in schools,” Gatchalian said.

“I think that would be a good preventive measure. Alam naman natin, tayo mismo, kung alam natin na may CCTV nag-iisip tayong maraming beses bago gumawa ng hindi maganda. So para maproteksyunan ang mga eskwelahan natin at yung mga estdyante at teachers natin, it’s about time na maglagay tayo ng separate budget for CCTVs,” he added. 

(We all know that if there are CCTV units, we'll be thinking twice to commit wrongdoings. So in order to protect our schools students and teachers, it;s about time we allocate separate budget for CCTVs.)

According to Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Operations Dexter Galban, there is no specific allocation for CCTVs in the department’s annual budget.

“The schools may purchase it via [maintenance and other operating expenses],” Galban said.

In Moonwalk National High School, one of the secondary education schools that was invited by the Senate panel due to a recent stabbing incident among its students, Principal Leonisa Romano said that they were able to install CCTVs through the use of their MOOEs.

Romano said these CCTVs helped them in monitoring incidents within the school premises.

“‘Pag may pangyayari kasi makikita mo agad sa principal’s office,” she said. 

(Should there be any incident, you can monitor it immediately at the principal's office.)

However, these CCTVs are not part of their budget plan, noting that this is their school’s “initiative.” — RSJ, GMA Integrated News