Marcos orders hiring of more school counselors to address bullying, mental health

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has directed the hiring of more school counselors in public schools, citing rising cases of bullying and mental health challenges among learners during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Calling attention to the emotional toll many students continue to face, Marcos said the government must prioritize the mental well-being of young Filipinos alongside traditional academic interventions. Th Department of Education had earlier acknowledged the lack of school counselors to support students' wellbeing.

“Maraming mag-aaral ang nakakaranas ng bullying o kaya’y depresyon. Binabantayan natin ang mental health ng ating kabataan,” the President said.

(Many students are experiencing bullying or depression. We are closely monitoring the mental health of our youth.)

To address this, Marcos said the Department of Education (DepEd) will increase the number of school counselors to serve as support systems and first responders for students in distress. 

Expanding mental health access

The president also announced the rollout of the YAKAP Caravan, a new nationwide initiative that provides free medical checkups, cancer screenings, and essential medicines for both learners and teachers.

While primarily focused on physical health, the YAKAP program is expected to open more touchpoints for early detection of psychological stress, anxiety, and depression among students, especially in underserved communities.

"Naglaan tayo ng isang bilyon para makapagtayo ng mahigit tatlong daang Barangay Child Development Centers at Bulilit Centers sa buong bansa. Lalo na sa mga higit na nangangailangang pook. At pauna lamang 'yan. Unti-unti nating tutugunan ang matinding kakulangan sa daycare centers na nabinbin mula pa noong 1990," he said. 

With this, education and health agencies are expected to work together to integrate mental wellness assessments into school-based health programs.

Advocates have long pushed for stronger mental health support in schools—especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, which deepened isolation, academic pressure, and emotional strain among students.

Despite the passage of the Mental Health Act in 2018, implementation in basic education has lagged, due largely to the shortage of licensed guidance counselors. 

As of latest DepEd data, thousands of schools still share a single counselor—if they have one at all.

Marcos’ call signals renewed urgency to address this gap and comes amid growing public concern over student suicides, school-based violence, and online harassment.

“Ang pinakamahalaga sa sistema ng edukasyon ay ang ating mga mahal na guro,” Marcos added, emphasizing the need to support both students and teachers.

(The most important part of the education system is our beloved teachers.)

The administration has yet to disclose how many new counselor positions will be created or when hiring will begin. However, education stakeholders say Marcos’ pronouncements mark a long-overdue shift in national policy, placing mental health at the core of education reform. — BM, GMA Integrated News