The Department of Education (DepEd) seeks support from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to strengthen security in public schools following the multiple violent incidents on campus.

The DepEd admitted that its budget is insufficient to assign security guards to every public school. Consequently, the agency will prioritize deploying guards to large and populous schools, where most violent incidents have been recorded in recent months.

“Ang suggestion namin, mag-umpisa sa malalaking eskwelahan dahil napansin namin, karamihan nung mga insidente ng karahasan nangyayari sa mga very large schools,” DepEd Sec. Sonny Angara said

[Our suggestion is to start with large schools because we noticed that most violent incidents occur in very large schools.”]

For smaller campuses, DepEd also asked DILG to deploy community watchmen (barangay tanods) as surrounding patrols for security measures.

“Sa mga mas maliit na eskwelahan, sinabi ko na rin kay Sec. Jonvic, hingin namin yung tulong ng mga barangay tanod na mag kahit romonda sila sa mga eskwelahan para ma-discourage 'yung mga violent incidents,” he added

[“For smaller schools, I also told Sec. Jonvic, that we will ask for help from community watchmen (barangay tanods) to conduct patrols around campuses to discourage violent incidents.”]

The DepEd also plans to use the fund for purchasing metal detectors for smaller public schools to prevent individuals from bringing bladed weapons and other prohibited items.

“Marami ring kulang ng metal detectors kasi yun ang importante. Maraming nagdadala ng mga kutsilyo tsaka ibang kagamitan. So yun, pinapabili na namin kasi medyo mas kaya namin yun eh. May ilang libo lang yung isang metal detector. So halos lahat ng schools bibigyan natin ng metal detectors,” Angara said

[“Many schools also lack metal detectors, which are crucial. Many bring knives and other weapons. So, we are ordering those now because that is more affordable for us. A metal detector costs only a thousand pesos, so we will provide metal detectors to almost all schools.”]

Police visibility around schools will also be intensified. While the police may generally remain outside school premises under normal circumstances, they will be permitted to go inside during emergencies.

Secretary Angara also stressed that active shooter drills should be conducted regularly in schools, so that new students and teachers become familiar with safety protocols.

Aside from security, the DepEd also plans to coordinate with the DICT, DOJ, telecommunications companies, and social media platforms to limit the spread of violent online content that the youth might copy.

The DepEd and DILG have already signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 12199 or the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act.

The law aims to strengthen the care, protection, and early development of Filipino children from birth up to five years of age.

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