Angara Urges Schools to Maximize PTAs for Enhanced Safety

MANILA, Philippines – As the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to strengthen security measures in schools, Education Secretary Sonny Angara has called on schools nationwide to fully maximize Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) as vital partners in promoting learner welfare and preventing school-related violence, emphasizing that ensuring children’s safety requires strong collaboration among schools, families, communities, and government. Angara said the Department’s Omnibus PTA Guidelines, under DepEd Order No. 13, s. 2022, already provides schools with a clear framework for strengthening the partnership between parents and teachers, making PTAs an important platform for identifying concerns early, supporting learners, and mobilizing communities around child protection. READ: DepEd issues guidelines to address school security violations “Schools cannot do this alone. Parents cannot do this alone. Pananagutan nating lahat ang kaligtasan ng ating mga anak, at ang PTA ang isa sa pinakamahalagang tulay na nagdurugtong sa pamilya, paaralan, at komunidad upang mapangalagaan ang bawat mag-aaral,” Angara said. Under the Omnibus PTA Guidelines, PTAs serve as a forum for parents and teachers to discuss learner-related concerns and their solutions, support school programs, and coordinate with local government units, civic organizations, and other stakeholders in advancing learner welfare and school development. The guidelines likewise recognize active collaboration among parents, teachers, schools, and communities as critical in ensuring the welfare of learners. The Education chief encouraged schools to use PTA general assemblies and regular meetings as opportunities to strengthen communication between parents and teachers, discuss learner attendance and behavior, identify learners who may require additional support, and reinforce positive discipline, anti-bullying efforts, responsible digital citizenship, and mental health awareness. “Our conversations with parents should not begin only when a problem has already occurred. The PTA gives us the opportunity to build trust, identify warning signs early, and work together before issues escalate,” Angara said. Angara also encouraged School PTAs to organize activities that strengthen school communities, such as parenting seminars, values formation sessions, digital safety orientations, peer support initiatives, community dialogues, and partnerships with barangays, local government units, youth organizations, and health professionals. These initiatives are further reinforced by the implementation of the Kaagapay Program under DepEd Memorandum No. 002, s. 2026, which empowers parents as co-educators to support values formation, learning, and bullying prevention at home. Through this program, schools are provided with structured avenues to work alongside families to ensure that learner protection and well-being remain a shared, consistent responsibility. These initiatives, he said, complement the Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen campus security, learner protection, and psychosocial support. Angara likewise highlighted that the guidelines encourage parents to actively monitor learner performance, support school programs, help monitor attendance of learners at risk of dropping out, provide feedback to teachers, and participate in initiatives that promote the welfare of learners. “The strongest safeguard against violence is a community that knows its children well,” Angara said. “When parents and teachers communicate regularly, when schools work closely with local governments and community partners, and when learners know they have trusted adults they can turn to, we create an environment where problems are addressed early and every child feels safe, supported, and valued.” The call forms part of DepEd’s continuing efforts to reinforce school safety nationwide through stronger security measures, enhanced learner support systems, and whole-of-society partnerships aimed at creating safer and more nurturing learning environments.