DepEd-7: Shortage of guidance counselors a challenge in strengthening school safety

Local

THE Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) is facing a shortage of licensed guidance counselors, a gap officials say is driven by the limited pool of qualified professionals and salaries that fail to match the profession's educational requirements.

DepEd-7 Regional Director Arturo Bayocot said becoming a licensed guidance counselor requires earning a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling and passing the licensure examination.

However, despite these qualifications, entry-level guidance counselors in DepEd receive compensation comparable to that of a Teacher I, discouraging many from joining the public school system.

"The qualifications are high, but the compensation is not attractive enough for many licensed professionals," Bayocot said during the Kapihan sa PIA on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

The shortage is reflected in the region's unfilled positions.

In Bohol, only 12 of the 71 available guidance counselor posts have been occupied, while Cebu City has filled just 11 of its 42 plantilla positions.

To improve recruitment, DepEd has proposed upgrading the salary grade and position level of guidance counselors in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Guidance Counselors Association of the Philippines. The agency has also requested the creation of 10,000 additional guidance-related positions nationwide.

Pending these reforms, Bayocot said the department is strengthening values education and equipping teachers to help address students' behavioral and emotional needs.

Schools also continue to conduct psychological first aid and trauma response training through their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management programs.

The regional director stressed that ensuring students' well-being goes beyond hiring counselors and requires the support of families, communities and local governments.

At the same time, DepEd-7 has intensified security measures in schools following recent safety incidents.

Bayocot said schools have been directed to strictly implement existing policies, including DepEd's Safe and Motivating Learning Environment guidelines, the Safe Schools 360 Degrees Initiative, and the Schools as Zones of Peace framework.

School heads have likewise been instructed to strengthen preventive measures, including hiring security guards through their Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses when funds allow and acquiring handheld metal detectors to screen people entering school campuses.

He acknowledged, however, that security remains difficult in schools without perimeter fences, where multiple access points make monitoring challenging.

DepEd-7 is now encouraging local government units and Parents-Teachers Associations to help improve school infrastructure, particularly perimeter fencing, while urging teachers, parents and communities to remain vigilant.

"Safety is everyone's responsibility," Bayocot said, emphasizing that safeguarding schools requires the collective effort of educators, families, local officials and the public.(MyTVCebu)