Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) is intensifying campus security across the country, enhancing anti-bullying initiatives, and bolstering protection measures for students following a fatal shooting incident at a public high school in Tacloban City on June 22.
According to Philippines News Agency, Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced the launch of the School Safety Campaign, a comprehensive initiative aimed at maintaining safe educational environments. The campaign focuses on improving prevention, reporting, response, and intervention mechanisms to ensure the safety of learners.
Angara emphasized the urgency of the program, stating, "We are moving with urgency because protecting our children is our absolute priority, and as President Bongbong Marcos always emphasizes, our schools must strictly remain safe zones for learning." He stressed the importance of cooperation with partners and stakeholders to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
To ensure successful implementation, DepEd is collaborating with schools, parents, local government units (LGUs), law enforcement agencies, and community stakeholders. The initiative includes deploying handheld metal detectors, implementing stricter visitor management systems, conducting regular bag inspections, expanding closed-circuit television (CCTV) coverage, and strategically deploying security personnel in public schools nationwide.
DepEd is also conducting safety audits to evaluate school infrastructure, focusing on perimeter fencing, access points, lighting, and emergency exits to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Further efforts include intensifying the implementation of the Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment (ESMLE), the Anti-Bullying Act, and existing child protection policies. School officials are being reoriented on procedures for reporting, investigating, referring, and responding to incidents involving students.
Schools Division Offices (SDOs) have been instructed to enhance collaboration with local police, barangay officials, parents, and community leaders to ensure swift action on safety concerns. At the national level, DepEd is coordinating its response and referral protocols with the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the Liga ng mga Barangay, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Health (DOH).
To facilitate reporting and early intervention, DepEd is establishing accessible and confidential channels for students to report bullying, violence, cyberbullying, and other protection concerns. The department is consulting with student leaders and parent-teacher associations to identify barriers that hinder reporting.
In response to challenges in digital spaces, DepEd is introducing age-appropriate digital citizenship and online safety programs for learners, parents, and school personnel. The department has also institutionalized intervention programs providing access to psychological first aid, counseling, and psychosocial support services for victims, perpetrators, and bystanders.
