Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has directed all regional offices and stations to collaborate closely with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education to ensure the security of campuses and major school activities. 'We encourage schools to coordinate with local police stations before conducting major off-campus activities so that proper security assessments, emergency response planning, traffic management, and coordination with rescue and medical services can be undertaken,' stated PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. in a news release.

According to Philippines News Agency, Nartatez emphasized the importance of prevention through strong partnerships and advance planning. The police force is intensifying collaboration with schools and local authorities to adhere to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive, which focuses on securing students both on and off campus.

President Marcos has urged a whole-of-society approach to protect Filipino students, instructing government agencies and schools to strengthen and strictly enforce safety protocols during classes and activities. This directive comes in response to recent deadly incidents and violence involving minors.

The DepEd has called for stricter safety protocols and increased police patrols, following a school shooting in Tacloban City on June 22 that resulted in the deaths of three students. In response, police forces nationwide are instructed to include educational institutions in their police visibility planning and implementation to ensure campus safety.