By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Council is strengthening mental health services and school safety following recent violent incidents involving students in different parts of the country.
Councilor Lorenzo Villafuerte, chairperson of the Committee on Social Services, said the city already has programs under its Mental Health Code but needs more social workers to expand psychosocial services.
“We already have a Mental Health Division under the City Health Office. We need more personnel, especially social workers who can provide psychosocial support,” Villafuerte said.
He said the city operates a Mental Wellness Center for homeless individuals with mental health conditions and is planning an outpatient program for people with anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.
Villafuerte said mental health remains stigmatized but added that the city continues to improve programs to meet the growing demand for mental health services.
He also said children’s exposure to online games should not automatically lead to a total ban.
“As a gamer myself, I have read studies from different countries showing no direct correlation between violent behavior and merely playing games,” he said. “The important thing is that children play age-appropriate games with parental guidance.”
Instead of banning online games, Villafuerte encouraged parents to use available parental controls to monitor their children’s online activities and promote responsible gaming.
Meanwhile, Councilor Antoinette Principe, chairperson of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology, said keeping schools safe requires the cooperation of the local government, the Department of Education, schools, parents, and the community.
Principe said the City Council recently urged DepEd to strengthen school security, while committee hearings will determine whether additional ordinances are needed.
“School safety is not only about hiring security guards,” Principe said. “This is not solely the responsibility of DepEd or the local government. Parents also play a crucial role because many issues begin at home.”
The councilor said schools should continue improving counseling services, values education, and mental wellness programs for students and teachers, while the city government maintains its support through personnel deployment.
Principe also urged parents to monitor their children’s online activities rather than rely solely on government action.
“A total ban on online games is not practical,” she said. “What we should teach children is self-regulation and discernment. Parents now have tools to monitor the content their children access.”
She also cited the city’s DCplinado Program, which has been integrated into public school curricula, with some private schools also planning to adopt it.
Following recent school-related violent incidents in other parts of the country, Principe said schools in Davao City have tightened security by enforcing stricter ID checks, conducting bag inspections, and limiting campus access.
She added that the city is studying a proposed ordinance to further strengthen school safety.
“Our goal is to strengthen what is already in place for learners and teachers,” Principe said.
Villafuerte and Principe spoke during the Pulong-Pulong sa Dabawenyos media forum at the Sangguniang Panlungsod on June 30.
