Baguio: The Department of Education-Baguio Schools Division Office (DepEd-BSDO) and the city Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) are collaborating with two public schools to create an active shooter response plan.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cliftone Bangsi-el, the disaster risk reduction and management focal person for DepEd-BSDO, stated in an interview that if the plans prove successful, they will be shared with other schools for benchmarking and drills for students and personnel. The Schools Safety Task Force, which includes representatives from public schools in Baguio, the Baguio City Police Office, and the DRRMO, has convened twice. The latest meeting concentrated on evaluating action plans and feedback from pilot schools Baguio City National High School and Fort del Pilar Elementary School.
The two pilot schools are set to submit a refined action plan for review. Following this, a tabletop simulation exercise will be organized, succeeded by a functional exercise. Once finalized, the plan will be distributed to all schools in the city to be incorporated into regular drills, complementing existing earthquake preparedness exercises. The initiative comes in response to an active shooting incident in Tacloban City last month, underscoring the need to prepare learners for emergencies.
City DRRMO chief Charles Carame highlighted that the office is testing the emergency SOS feature on Android phones for use during shooting incidents. He explained that this feature can be configured to call 911 by pressing the power button three times, providing a quick response mechanism during emergencies.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong has stated that banning mobile phones in schools is not under consideration, as they play a crucial role in emergencies. While cellphones are restricted during class hours, they are essential for contacting parents or guardians in urgent situations. Magalong emphasized the need for a comprehensive study before any policy changes are made.
The Baguio City Police Office has heightened police visibility operations in schools to counter bullying, a practice that is set to be reinforced. Police may also assist in conducting bag inspections to prevent the entry of contraband onto campuses. Schools are instructed to conduct drills for both earthquake and active shooter scenarios, as the appropriate responses differ significantly.
Currently, about 70 percent of public schools have initiated random bag inspections to deter students from bringing prohibited items. Parents have expressed their support for these measures, according to DepEd-BSDO.
