Students raise their hands as they evacuate during a nationwide school drills to safeguard students from armed intruders, at a school in San Rafael, Bulacan on September 3, 2026. Jam Sta. Rosa, AFP
MANILA — The safety of youth is everyone's responsibility, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told educators on National Teachers' Day.
Marcos was keynote speaker in the culmination program of the Teachers' Month, where at least 10,000 teachers from various regions were in attendance.
In his speech, Marcos said various measures were being implemented in the whole-of-government approach to prevent school violence.
"Pinapalakas natin ang guidance at mental health support sa ating mga paaralan, nagdagdag ng School Counselor Associates, at pinaiigting ang ating mga hakbang laban sa bullying at iba pang mga uri ng karahasan," Marcos said.
Three fatal school shootings have been recorded rocked the country this year, putting safety of students front and center in education policy discussions.
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"Nagtutulungan ang buong pamahalaan upang maiwasan ang ganitong insidente sa ating mga paaralan. Kailangan natin lahat na maging mulat at handang kumilos," he added.
"Ang kaligtasan ng kabataan ay tungkulin nating lahat: pamahalaan, paaralan, magulang, guro, komunidad, at bawat isa sa atin," the President said.
Marcos thanked teachers for their compassion in nurturing Filipino learners.
"You give more than you receive. You give your time, your patience, your knowledge, and often, a part of yourselves to every child that you teach. Kayo ang nagsisilbing inspirasyon sa kabataang nangangarap sa loob at labas ng paaralan," he said.
"Kadalasan, kayo na rin ang tumatayong pangalawang magulang nila. At bilang magulang din, nagpapasalamat ako sa inyong malasakit, pagmamahal, at pag-aaruga sa tuwing sila ay nasa paaralan," Marcos added.
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The President vowed to strengthen support for teachers' welfare.
"We have strengthened our non-teaching workforce, streamlined teachers’ paperwork, and reduced classroom observations from four per school year to one in School Year 2025–2026, then two… followed by two for the succeeding school years," he said.
He also said teachers would receive their annual World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit on top of performance-based bonuses.
Some 82,000 teachers and school heads have been promoted under the Expanded Career Progression System as of last month.
Around 4,100 newly promoted teachers and education personnel in Region II took their oaths of office last Friday.
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