The Department of Education (DepEd) plans to intensify safety and security measures in schools following the three violent incidents inside the school premises, where both students were involved and victimized. 

In light of this, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara stated that it is now necessary to add plantilla positions for security guards.

“Well, siguro kailangan natin ng pondo or ng position para sa security guard. Yun ang pinakaimportante,” he said. “Yung ibang school kailangan ng more than one security guard. So kulang na kulang yung mga plantilla items natin for security,”

Angara also emphasized the importance of security, noting that students must feel safe while studying their lessons at school.

“Habang nag-au-audit tayo nung anong pangangailangan ng mga schools, inobserbahan din natin yung mga eskwelahan at number one priority dapat safety kasi diba kahit maganda yung tinuturo natin kung feeling naman ng mga magulang or mga estudyante hindi sila safe  sa eskwelahan mahirapan [din sila],” he said

According to Angara, before he was appointed to his position, the security guards in public schools underwent a nationalization system, where at least 200 security guards remained while there were 48,000 public schools in the country. 

Recently, the department has continued to go around schools to conduct a school safety audit to restore a safe environment for students.

With reports from Mia Alonzo

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