Philippines to fund 2,000 new school guidance counselors

The Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) is addressing a critical shortage of mental health professionals in schools. Currently, fewer than 1,000 registered guidance counselors serve more than 45,000 schools nationwide, a figure significantly below international standards.

To mitigate this gap, the national government has proposed a ₱802 million budget for 2027 to hire 2,021 new personnel, including 1,800 School Counselor Associates and 221 School Division Counselors. This initiative follows the implementation of Republic Act 12080, also known as the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act.

Officials noted that the shortage has left schools vulnerable to rising cases of bullying, violence, and psychological challenges among students. DepEd Undersecretary Willie Cabral stated the department aims to recruit at least 10,000 school counselor associates to bolster support systems.