Senate approves school safety, online child protection measures

The Senate on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, unanimously approved on third and final reading two measures aimed at strengthening protections for children against violence, online abuse and exploitation while improving safety in schools.

The measures are the Comprehensive School Safety Act and the Safeguarding Against Grooming, Inducement and Predation, and Building Accountability for Technology-Facilitated Abuse or Exploitation (SAGIP BATA) Act. Both received 17 affirmative votes, with no negative votes or abstentions.

The Comprehensive School Safety Act seeks to establish a nationwide framework for preventing and responding to violence and other threats in public and private schools. It directs the Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with government agencies, local governments and other stakeholders, to establish a National School Safety Framework.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the measure comes amid a series of violent incidents involving students in different parts of the country.

Among the incidents cited were a June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left three students dead and 15 others injured; an Aug. 18 shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University that killed a Grade 10 student before the Grade 9 suspect died by suicide; and a Sept. 18 shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato that killed two students before the 14-year-old suspect also died by suicide.

The school safety measure provides for localized safety plans, risk assessments, emergency response procedures, CCTV cameras in classrooms and common areas, as well as counseling and psychological support for students and school personnel.

It also contains provisions regulating the use of mobile phones and portable electronic devices during instructional hours, subject to specified exceptions.

Gatchalian had earlier pushed for restrictions on mobile devices and other electronic gadgets during class hours, citing the need to address safety and student welfare concerns. A separate Senate measure, Senate Bill No. 2706, had also proposed prohibiting the use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets during class hours from kindergarten to senior high school.

The second measure, the SAGIP BATA Act, focuses on strengthening the country’s response to online sexual abuse and exploitation of children and other technology-facilitated threats.

The legislation covers grooming, inducement, exploitation and manipulation of minors through both physical and digital platforms. It also seeks to strengthen safeguards, regulatory mechanisms and enforcement measures against technology-facilitated sexual abuse and the proliferation of child sexual abuse material.

The measure further addresses the use of technology and online platforms in facilitating serious violent crimes against minors.

The Senate’s action comes as lawmakers seek to update child protection mechanisms in response to emerging digital threats. During earlier Senate deliberations on the measure, lawmakers cited the growing use of online games, social media and emerging technologies by children, as well as the potential for these platforms to be exploited by predators.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has also been considering legislation focused on school discipline, early intervention, counseling, student support and violence prevention for children and young people.

With the two Senate measures approved on third reading, they will proceed to the next stages of the legislative process before they can become law.