Manila: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced a collaboration with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to tackle the rising number of bomb threats in higher education institutions (HEIs).
According to Philippines News Agency, the partnership commenced with the launch of the Crisis or Incident Management and Bomb Threat Response Training program, held from December 6 to 8 at Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte. The program saw participation from 48 representatives across 16 state universities and colleges identified as highly vulnerable.
In an official statement, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis emphasized the agency's dedication to ensuring campus safety. Agrupis highlighted the importance of prioritizing safety measures within educational institutions and expressed the need for academic programs that enhance knowledge in civil society protection.
The three-day initiative included a range of activities such as intensive modules, expert-led discussions, and practical emergency simulations. These were conducted by specialists from the PNP and the Office of Civil Defense, aiming to provide participants with comprehensive crisis management skills.
Agrupis expressed hope that through this training, CHED would foster new educational pathways focused on safeguarding both higher education and broader societal safety. The collaboration comes in response to alarming statistics, as data from the PNP and CHED survey revealed 209 reported bomb threats in HEIs. Notably, 128 incidents occurred between October and November, disrupting academic operations.
