More than 1,000 learners and 100 teaching and non-teaching personnel have benefitted from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) following the “lawless violence” instigated near public schools in Masbate.
DepEd on Tuesday, May 2, said this initiative was specifically conducted in Villahermosa Elementary School, Villahermosa National High School, Locso-an Elementary School, and Arriesgado-Sevilleno National High School in Masbate from April 25 to April 27.
(Photo courtesy of the Department of Education)
“[T]here is an urgency to react to these situations. Anchored on the MATATAG Agenda, our response is to provide a safe environment for our teachers and learners,” Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) Director Christian Rivero said in a press statement.
Earlier in April, DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa said 55,000 learners and 2,815 DepEd teaching and non-teaching personnel were affected by the armed conflicts in the province of Masbate alone.
DepEd and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) cited five incidents that happened in 2023, calling it a “pattern” for the said attacks. According to the government agencies, the incidents happened in the following areas: Eastern Capsay, Baleno in Masbate on Jan. 9; Guiom, Cawayan in Masbate on Feb. 9; Villahermosa, Cawayan in Masbate on March 20; Locso-an, Placer and Gaid, Dimasalang in Masbate on March 22.
To better protect learners and educators, the Schools Division Office in Masbate said they are planning to “strengthen the capacity of schools” with the support of the DepEd Central and Regional Office.