President Marcos has directed government agencies to strengthen measures aimed at protecting students following a series of violent incidents and accidents involving young Filipinos in recent weeks.

In a vlog uploaded to his official social media pages on Saturday, June 27, the President said he had instructed agencies involved in education, law enforcement, health, and local governance to intensify efforts to ensure the safety of students across the country.

"Ngayong araw, hindi lamang bilang Pangulo ang aking pananalita, kundi bilang isang ama, bilang kapwa-Pilipino, at bilang isang taong lubos na nag-aalala sa kaligtasan ng ating mga anak (Today, I speak not only as President, but as a father, a fellow Filipino, and as someone deeply concerned about the safety of our children),” he said.

"Inatasan ko ang ating mga ahensya sa edukasyon, kapulisan, kalusugan, at lokal na pamahalaan na higit pang palakasin ang mga hakbang para sa kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral sa buong bansa (I have directed our agencies in education, law enforcement, health, and local government to further strengthen measures for the safety of students throughout the country),” he added.

Marcos cited several recent incidents involving Filipino students that he described as heartbreaking and alarming.

Among these was a shooting incident inside a school in Tacloban City that resulted in deaths and injuries involving students.

He also noted two separate stabbing incidents involving bladed weapons inside schools in Cavite that occurred within a span of one week.

The President likewise mentioned the deaths of two student-athletes from Ateneo de Manila University, who drowned during a team-building activity, an incident that sparked grief and public outrage.

Marcos noted that the youth should be protected against violence, negligence, danger, and their silent struggles.

"Magkaiba man ang mga pangyayaring ito, iisa ang mensaheng ipinapakita nila sa atin. Kailangan maprotektahan ang ating mga kabataan (While these incidents may be different, they all send us one message: we must protect our youth),” he said.

“Nakakadurog talaga ng puso (These are heartbreaking),” he added.

The President emphasized that schools must remain safe spaces where students can learn and pursue their dreams.

"Ang paaralan ay dapat maging lugar ng pagkatuto, pangarap, at pag-unlad. Hindi lugar kung saan nangangamba ang mga magulang para sa kaligtasan ng kanilang mga anak (Schools should be places of learning, dreams, and growth — not places where parents fear for the safety of their children),” he said.

Marcos said initial reports suggested that some of the violent incidents may have been linked to bullying, an issue that many young Filipinos continue to face.

He noted, however, that investigations into the incidents are still ongoing.

With this, the President called on parents, teachers, and schools to take a more active role, saying government action alone would not be enough to address the problem.

He also urged teachers to continue serving not only as educators but also as mentors and advisers to their students.

Schools, meanwhile, were reminded to strictly enforce safety protocols not only inside classrooms but also during field trips, training camps, and other school-related activities.

President Marcos also addressed students directly, reminding them that their lives and struggles matter and encouraging them to seek help when needed.

"Sa bawat estudyanteng nanonood ngayon, mahalaga ang inyong buhay, mahalaga ang inyong mga pinagdadaanan, at ang paghingi ng tulong ay hindi kailanman tanda ng kahinaan (To every student watching today, your life matters, your struggles matter, and asking for help is never a sign of weakness),” he said.

The President also urged parents not to underestimate the importance of spending time with their children and listening to them.

"Minsan, ang pinakamahalagang proteksyong maibibigay natin sa ating mga anak ay ang ating oras, atensyon at pag-unawa (Sometimes, the most important protection we can give our children is our time, attention, and understanding),” he stressed.