Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Monday spearheaded a new vital lifeline for learners with the nationwide rollout of the enhanced Learners TeleSafe Contact Center Helpline (#33733), which now provides a direct connection to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline.
During his visit to General Tiburcio De Leon National High School, Angara showcased how the Department of Education’s (DepEd) two-way referral system ensures that learners facing mental health crises or protection concerns receive immediate professional intervention.
‘Sa ilalim ng liderato ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, mahalaga sa atin ang bawat magaaral kaya nais nating iparamdam sa kanila na hindi sila nag-iisa at laging may handang makinig sa kanilang pinagdadaanan,’ Angara said.
Getting in touch
‘Sa pag-uugnay ng ating #33733 Helpline sa mga dalubhasa mula sa NCMH, inilalapit natin ang kalinga at de-kalidad na healthcare sa bawat mag-aaral-dahil sa bawat tawag, tinitiyak natin na may katuwang sila tungo sa paggaling, kaligtasan, at panatag na kaisipan.’
The Learners Telesafe Contact Center Helpline may be contacted through #33733 (#DEPED), 09451759777 or via email [email protected] and Viber.
Through the support of PLDT Inc.’s contact center solutions, the helpline can now instantly connect distressed callers to NCMH specialists for expert crisis response.
Guidance, assistance
DepEd’s Learner Rights and Protection (LRP) officers provide immediate guidance and assessments while addressing urgent concerns and coordinating with appropriate offices.
Angara also toured the school’s Learner Support Center, a facility that integrates Guidance/Care Centers, Teen Centers, and Learner Rights and Protection Desks to provide a unified safe space for learners.
The Valenzuela City event was part of a simultaneous nationwide rollout, with parallel activities held at Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School in Iloilo City and Bulua National High School in Cagayan de Oro City.
YAKAP at Kalinga Caravan
During the visit, Angara also checked the YAKAP at Kalinga Caravan, a joint initiative with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) that provided free medical, dental, vision screenings and psychosocial support to mental health activities to around 200 learners, teachers and parents.
Youth leaders
He also welcomed 25 new members of the school’s Peer Hub, consisting of youth leaders trained by MentorHealth Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University to provide peer-to-peer mental health support and referral assistance to their schoolmates.
Zeus Embalsado, a Grade 12 learner, said the Peer Hub provides a more approachable support system for fellow learners who feel hesitant to discuss their concerns with adults.
‘Nakita ko ang kalagayan ng kapwa kong mag-aaral kung saan hindi sila minsan nakakalapit sa mga nakakatanda. Kaya naman napag-isipan kong sumali, para makalapit sila sa mga kapwa mag-aaral kung saan mas magiging comfortable sila,’ he said.
‘Ang nagtulak po sa akin na maging part ng Peer Hub ay mga experiences ko at para magbigay ng inspirasyon sa mga kapwa ko estudyante. Hindi lang din po inspirasyon pero kung saan ako makakatulong sa ating society,’ said Grade 12 student Daphne Fernandez.
Angara also observed an evidence-based orientation supported by Ateneo De Manila University for 40 parents on identifying and responding to bullying in order to support their children effectively while accessing school support channels.
Additionally, Angara visited the school’s kitchen to observe the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), where hot meals are meticulously prepared by the School Parent-Teacher Association (SPTA) for participants of the ARAL summer remediation program.
These comprehensive interventions align with the Universal Health Care Act (Republic Act No. 11223) and the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-being Promotion Act (RA 12080), of which Angara was one of the authors and key proponents during his tenure in the Senate.