The executive department has failed to set aside specific funds for mental health interventions in schools under the P5.024-trillion proposed 2022 national budget.
This was revealed during the House of Representatives' plenary debates Thursday, September 30, on the Department of Education's (DepEd) P630.8-billion proposed budget for next year.
"There's no specific amount for mental health...There's no specific item for that but we there other sources available," said Negros Oriental 1st District Rep. Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong, who was sponsoring the DepEd's 2022 budget.
Speaking for the DepEd, Limkaichong referred to the agency's P6.327-million fund supposedly coming from the United Nations Population (UNFPA) for the "national training for supervisors, school heads, and teachers" on how to address issues on the mental health of children.
DepEd also has funds "psycho-social programs", although the agency did not specify before the Lower House.
"Unfortunately, specifically, for the mental health, wala talaga (there's really no allocation)," Limkaichong reported.
Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Quimbo, who raised the matter in her interpellation, expressed her disappointment over the absence of funds for mental health programs.
Quimbo said that even the P6-million grant is not enough to train all teachers throughout the country on helping their students with their mental health concerns.
"Napaka-disappointing naman po na wala tayong specific budget item para sa school mental health program, na alam naman po natin, is really very, very important, especially ngayon po na may pandemya (It's really disappointing to know that we didn't have a specific budget for school mental health program, which we all know is very, very important especially now we have a pandemic)," Quimbo said.
"Ang ating mga anak po, 'yong mga below 18 years old (Our children, those below 18 years old), they've been locked down since March, 2020. Alam naman po natin na hindi naman po normal na bawal lumabas ng bahay (We all know that it's not normal to prevent them from going out), but that's the situation of the youth today," she pointed out.
"I really see the impact of being just locked down at home...There could be mental health issues that would be related to prolonged lockdowns," said the lawmaker, who has four children.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 last year, face-to-face classes were prohibited and students have only been learning thru the DepEd's blended and distance learning system.
Lawmakers were told that the Deped only has 1,246 guidance counselors in public schools, and has yet to fill the 5,631 total number of slots for the position.
"We have 28.2 million students but only 1,246 guidance counselors providing a very, very important healthcare service today," Quimbo lamented.
Limkaichong said the agency is also partnering with established non-government organizations and groups for addressing mental health and wellness issues among children.
"There's also mental health programs implemented for schools online and on television," she added.
Quimbo asked the DepEd to submit a "solid plan" for the possible crafting of a remedial legislation.