Psychological first aid eyed for South Cotabato school community

BANGA, South Cotabato — The South Cotabato provincial government is considering deploying trained psychological first aider personnel to Banga National High School here.

The action is meant to help students, teachers and parents cope with the emotional impact of Friday’s shooting.

Rolly Doane Aquino, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said the intervention was being discussed by provincial officials following the incident at the school.

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Aquino said the team can provide psychological first aid to students, particularly those affected by the shooting, while teachers and parents may also be included.

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The psychological first aider crew had undergone training funded by the PDRRMO.

Aquino said some relatives of the victims were understandably emotional over the incident, which left some families grieving and others worried about their injured loved ones.

“We understand what they are feeling, and we continue to support them emotionally,” he said.

Aside from possible psychological intervention, the provincial government is assessing the immediate needs of the victims and their families.

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Aquino mentioned that South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. went to the site of the shooting on Friday.

Meanwhile, Aquino had visited six patients confined in hospitals, and also went to funeral homes to check on the families of the fatalities.

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Among the immediate concerns are the hospital expenses of victims who were transferred to private hospitals.

Aquino said patients admitted to the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital will receive free treatment, while the provincial government will also look into assistance for those being treated in private hospitals.

He said some initial assistance had already been extended to the affected families.

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Aquino added that assistance was also expected from the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the provincial government. /apl