Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has launched a province-wide anti-bullying hotline to address student complaints, following a deadly school shooting in Tacloban City. The hotline will be managed by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and the Provincial Youth Development Office (PYDO), which have designated focal persons to handle reports.
Emergency Numbers for Schools
Governor Baricuatro also ordered all schools in the province to establish their own emergency hotline numbers, providing easy access for students and teachers during crises. This initiative is coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) under the Cebu Provincial School Board.
Governor's Statement
“What kind of future will we have if we don’t take care of our children now?” Baricuatro said during an emergency meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC). The council approved recommendations for awareness and intervention programs by the Department of Education (DepEd) targeting teachers, students, and parents. These programs will focus on crime prevention, school safety protocols, anti-bullying campaigns, gangsterism, extremism, and radicalization.
Security Deployment
Police Colonel Abubakar Mangelen Jr., head of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO), reported that security measures in schools are already in place. According to CPPO records, 2,516 security personnel have been deployed to schools across the province. These actions come after a shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on Monday, June 22, 2026, which left three students dead and 13 injured.
