The Department of Education (DepEd) will introduce active shooter drills in public schools as part of heightened security measures following the deadly shooting at a public high school last month.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the agency will officially launch the drills on Friday in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen measures that ensure the safety of learners and school personnel.
Speaking on the sidelines of the expanded School-Based Feeding Program rollout at Pulilan Central School in Bulacan on Wednesday, Angara said the drills will teach students and school personnel how to respond during an active shooter incident.
“May ilo-launch tayo sa Biyernes: ‘yung shooting drill na ipapakita natin kung ano ang kailangang gawin kapag may bumaril sa isang eskwelahan. May protocol na tayong automatic,” Angara said.
The education chief said the initiative forms part of the department’s adjustments following what he described as the country’s first school shooting involving a student as the gunman.
“Nag-aadjust tayo kasi ito ‘yung kauna-unahang school shooting. Ibig sabihin ‘yung estudyante ‘yung namaril,” he said.
Aside from active shooter drills, Angara said the department is also strengthening its response to bomb threats reported in schools.
He noted that some schools already have established protocols for handling such incidents, while others temporarily suspend classes depending on the situation.
“Sa mga sanay na sa bomb threat, ang ginagawa nila, tinatawag nila ‘yung SWAT teams,” he said.
Angara said DepEd will continue coordinating closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to improve school security and address potential threats.
Earlier, the department said it would work with law enforcement agencies to increase police visibility in schools as part of broader efforts to protect learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel.
The new safety measures come after the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School, where two students allegedly opened fire inside the campus, leaving three people dead and several others injured.
The incident prompted the government to review existing school security protocols and adopt additional measures aimed at preventing similar attacks.
Photo from Philstar
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