By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the release of over P1 million in financial aid from his office to the families of victims of the shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte last month.
During a press briefing in Malacañang, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the families of the three students who died will each receive P150,000, while each of the 18 injured will get P50,000.
“Walang katumbas ang buhay ng isang tao. Pinapahalagahan ng Pangulo ang bawat buhay ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi man maibabalik ang buhay na nawala, hatid ng Pangulo ang lubos na pakikiramay at mahigit P1 million na tulong pinansyal,” Castro said.
The financial assistance from the Office of the President is on top of the support already being carried out by other government agencies, including the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Usec. Castro cited DepEd’s efforts to bolster security and safety protocols in schools under the School Safety Campaign, such as the use of metal detectors and the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
She also assured victims’ families and the public that while the two children in conflict with the law (CICL) involved in the shooting spree will not be put in regular jail, they will be handled through age-appropriate interventions in accordance with the country’s Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
“Sisiguraduhin ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na makakamit ninyo ang hustisya,” she said.
Meanwhile, according to DepEd’s Monday update, all 12 hospitalized learners are receiving medical care and are in stable and recovering condition.
“Patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan ang DepEd sa mga ospital at pamilya ng mga apektadong mag-aaral upang matiyak na naibibigay ang kinakailangang suporta sa kanilang tuloy-tuloy na paggaling,” the agency said.
“Mananatiling priyoridad ng DepEd ang tuluyang paghilom at pagbangon ng mga learners mula sa mabigat na karanasan,” it added.
In his vlog posted on June 27, President Marcos Jr. called for collective effort to safeguard the youth and prevent school-related violence involving minors, stressing that schools should be places of learning, hope, and growth—not places where parents fear for their children’s safety.
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