PHP 802 million eyed for 2,021 new school guidance counselors

MANILA – The national government plans to spend PHP 802 million next year to hire a total of 2,021 new guidance counselors for public elementary and high schools in a bid to strengthen the mental health services of the Department of Education.

House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan disclosed the planned allocation on Sunday.

The proposed 2027 national budget provides PHP 802 million for the creation of 1,800 new School Counselor Associate I positions and 221 new School Division Counselor positions for DepEd, according to Libanan.

The additional posts would be added to a system DepEd itself has described as thinly staffed, with fewer than 1,000 registered guidance counselors serving more than 45,000 public schools nationwide.

“We are all for increased government spending to bolster the support system around every learner. A child who is struggling should have ready access to a trained school professional who can listen and help,” Libanan said.

Libanan said the fresh funding allocation is especially timely as schools face growing concerns over bullying, student mental health, and threats of violence.

“Early intervention is critical. We should be able to recognize warning signs and provide help before a problem becomes a tragedy,” Libanan added.

The Minority Leader said guidance counselors play an important role in helping teachers, parents, and school administrators understand and respond to students who may be experiencing emotional, behavioral, or psychological difficulties.

“Guidance counselors are part of our first line of defense. They help our schools become safer and more supportive communities for children,” Libanan said.

The bottleneck is supply as much as funding. About 5,000 registered guidance counselors and fewer than 3,000 registered psychologists were licensed in the Philippines as of Jan. 31, DepEd said.

DepEd created 5,000 guidance counselor positions in 2020, but only roughly 1,000 have been filled because too few licensed professionals are available to take them.

The department is separately filling 10,000 School Counselor Associate posts funded under the 2026 budget. Of these, 9,641 have been published, 6,968 are under assessment, and 2,469 remain open to applicants.

A School Counselor Associate I receives a monthly base salary of PHP 31,000 plus a personal economic relief allowance of PHP 2,000.

The American School Counselor Association recommends one counselor for every 250 learners, DepEd Undersecretary Willie Cabral said.

The hiring drive is anchored on Republic Act 12080, the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which DepEd has cited as the legal basis for expanding school-based mental health services.

Libanan also expressed hope that private elementary and high schools would increase their own investments in professional guidance and counseling services.

“We are counting on private elementary and high schools to also do their share. The well-being of our children is a shared responsibility,” he added.

The increase in guidance personnel comes as the country reels from two fatal school shooting incidents in a span of less than two months.

On June 22, two students aged 14 and 15 and armed with a 9mm Glock pistol and a .38-caliber revolver opened fire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, killing three fellow students and injuring 20 others.

On Aug. 18, a 14-year-old Grade 8 student opened fire at the high school building of Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City.

The shooter gunned down a 15-year-old Grade 10 student before going to the fifth floor and taking his own life.

Authorities said the assailant had brought a pistol and a rifle into the school and had partly livestreamed the attack via a body-worn camera.

“These incidents show why we must invest not only in physical security but also in the emotional and psychological support available to our students. Prevention must begin long before a crisis occurs,” Libanan said.