The Department of Health (DOH) will begin deploying psychosocial support teams to Tacloban City on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, to address the mental health needs of the community affected by the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School.
Support Teams to Be Deployed
In a social media post, DOH-Eastern Visayas Director Exuperia Sabalberino announced that the teams will consist of various medical personnel. "We will be providing mental health and psychosocial services starting tomorrow (Wednesday) until Friday," Sabalberino said. "We have a team of doctors, psychiatrists, psychometricians, Human Resources for Health, Development Management Officer that will be fielded together with an adolescent house specialist."
Shooting Incident Details
The shooting occurred on June 22, 2026, at San Jose National High School, leaving three students dead and 22 others injured. The incident shocked the city, especially after the suspects were identified as minors aged 14 and 15 years old.
Medical Bills Covered
Sabalberino assured that the medical bills of the injured will be covered under the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program. "We have a total of 22 injured individuals that were taken to different hospitals," she said. "We talked to the medical directors of these private and public hospitals because it really should be covered by zero balance billing. They will have nothing to pay upon discharge."
