Malacañang has expressed support for increasing the budget of schools to hire security guards, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) prepares to issue recommendations on necessary measures to ensure safety within school premises.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a review of existing security protocols in schools following a shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on Monday, June 22.

PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said that aside from revising security measures, they will also recommend steps to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and other school personnel.

"Agad pong ipinag-utos ng ating Chief PNP unang-una po ang comprehensive review ng lahat po ng ito, existing security protocols na prevailing sa atin pong mga eskuwelahan. Ito pong access control and entry procedures, we are recommending na iyon pong mga schools na malalaki, na marami pong ingress at egress ay i-limit na lang po sa isa o dalawa para po mas ma-monitor natin ang mga pumapasok." (Our Chief PNP immediately ordered, first and foremost, a comprehensive review of all existing security protocols prevailing in our schools. On access control and entry procedures, we are recommending that larger schools with many entry and exit points limit these to just one or two so we can better monitor those who enter.)

The PNP also said it will strengthen coordination with barangays and introduce active shooter drills in schools.

"Also, papalakasin po natin iyong coordination mechanism between the law enforcement, the barangays, as well as the schools po natin. And isa pa po ay iyong we are planning to conduct simulation exercises kagaya po ng earthquake drills natin na kung saan ay matuturuan po ang ating mga estudyante at ating mga guro at lahat po kung paano po mag-react, kung ano po ang gagawin in crisis situations to include active shooter situation." (We will also strengthen the coordination mechanism between law enforcement, the barangays, and our schools. We are also planning to conduct simulation exercises similar to our earthquake drills, where our students, teachers, and everyone will be taught how to react and what to do in crisis situations, including active shooter situations.)

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro also expressed the administration's openness to allocating additional funds for the Department of Education to hire well-trained security guards for schools.

"Iyan po ay naitanong din po natin at kung kinakailangan po talaga ay kailangan pong magdagdag ng budget, kapag ito po ang pinag-uusapan natin para po sa seguridad ng ating mga kabataan at mga mag-aaral." (That was also raised, and if it is truly necessary to add to the budget, especially when we are talking about the security of our youth and students, then it must be done.)

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