DepEd has asked the NBI to probe alleged abuses committed inside PHSA.
MANILA, Philippines — Following allegations of abuses at the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), its administration imposed tighter measures.
PHSA Executive Director Josue Greg Zuniega admitted that they could only do reforms following the accusations.
“On our part kasi ang magagawa lang po natin ay looking forward po tayo sa mga reforms sa ating eskwelahan dahil po tayo po ay bukod sa meron nang basic education, meron din tayong arts curriculum tapos boarding school pa tayo,” Zuniega said during the Senate committee on basic education hearing Friday.
(On our part, we can look forward to implementing reforms in our schools because aside from basic education, we have an arts curriculum and boarding school.)
A stricter curfew and out-of-campus activity policy became part of the school administration’s efforts, according to the director.
“Napakastrikto po ngayon ng ating administrasyon pagdating sa curfew hours,” Zuniega said.
(Our administration is now stricter when it comes to curfew.)
“Pagdating po sa out-of-campus activities, kailangan po ng waiver mula sa magulang at kung ito po ay maaprubahan ay may school chaperone po na kasama,” he added.
(When it comes to out-of-campus activities, a waiver from parents must be fulfilled, and they will have school chaperones.)
For dormitories, students of the same sex stay in the same building. However, each room is limited to three individuals only, said Zuniega.
“Hanggang tatlo lang sa isang kwarto sa dormitory as recommended by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation). Tapos ang ating dormitory setup hiwalay po ang babae tapos ang mga lalaki po ay sa ibang campus,” he said.
(One room can only accommodate three persons as recommended by the NBI. Our dormitory setup is men and women are on separate campuses.)
Zuniega likewise said that seminars on safe spaces and child protection are also held.
Vice President Sara Duterte, concurrently serving as education secretary, tapped the NBI to investigate the alleged abuses at the art school.
Earlier, an in-depth report of Vice World News uncovered that several PHSA alumni voiced out their experiences of abuses committed by teachers, personnel, or fellow student.
PHSA is a state-run arts school located in Mt. Makiling, Laguna.