Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Thursday that realistic or active shooter simulations have been removed from nationwide simultaneous safety drills in public schools. This decision follows extensive consultations with stakeholders and recommendations from the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (PSCAP), which urged that learners should not be exposed to 'hyper-realistic scenarios of violence.'
According to Philippines News Agency, hyper-realistic elements, active aggressor role-playing, and graphic threat simulations have been strictly prohibited. DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma, speaking at the sidelines of the safety drills held at Carlos F. Gonzales High School in Maguinao, San Rafael, Bulacan, stated that the current protocol includes several modifications aimed at ensuring the holistic well-being of learners. "This drill that we have posed many changes. First, we no longer utilized an attacker," he explained.
Garma emphasized that the terminology used has also shifted from "attack" to "school safety" to reflect a more positive approach. Instead of simulating an active shooting scenario, the 30-minute safety drill is now initiated by a specific alarm designed to comply with the agency's 'Do No Harm' order. This alarm is distinct from those used in fire or earthquake drills, and it signals the school administration and the campus about a supposed armed threat or in-campus violence.
The safety measures also include the use of the Unified 911 system under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which facilitates timely communication with law enforcement agencies. Garma praised the system's efficiency, noting that "Our principal has dialled only three digits, and immediately an operator answered and referred the complaint to the nearest police station." This ensures a prompt response from local authorities and police forces.
The drills also focus on collaboration between learners and teachers, involving a 30-minute lockdown phase and first-aid responses for both physical and psycho-social emergencies. The presence of mental health experts, such as psychologists and psychiatrists, is intended to enhance first-aid responses and improve other necessary modifications. Garma highlighted the importance of expert input in developing protocols that are child-friendly and child-protective.
Once these protocols are finalized, DepEd plans to conduct another safety drill in public schools before the end of the year.
