Quezon city: The Quezon City government on Friday rolled out a new framework that brings schools, police, barangays, families, and community organizations together to prevent and respond to violence and other threats in schools.
According to Philippines News Agency, the 'QC Safe Schools Whole-of-Community Framework' establishes clear roles and coordinated response mechanisms to address bullying, discrimination, violence, illegal drug use, gang recruitment, unsafe online behavior, and other risks to learner safety and well-being.
In her message, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte stressed the right of every learner to feel safe, respected, and protected while in school. "Through QC Safe Schools, we are uniting schools, families, barangays, law enforcement, and community partners to prevent harm, strengthen reporting and response systems, and ensure that protecting every child is a shared responsibility," she said.
The framework, developed with the Department of Education - Schools Division Office and the Quezon City Police District, sets out the responsibilities of each sector in addressing violence, including unsafe online behavior that poses risks to learners. Belmonte said the city government will lead policy support, inter-agency coordination, learner protection programs, and referral mechanisms, while the Philippine National Police will provide police visibility, crime prevention, child-sensitive interventions, and case coordination.
Schools will implement child protection policies, confidential reporting, counseling, and timely intervention, while parents and families will be trained to recognize warning signs and reinforce positive values. Barangays will strengthen school-community safety, emergency preparedness, and referral systems, and civil society organizations will provide psychosocial, legal, educational, and other specialized assistance.
As part of the initiative, the city also developed a School Safety and Emergency Response Guide to give schools a common set of procedures when dealing with security threats and other emergencies. The city government said the guide features the Identify, Avoid, Deny, Defend Protocol, which provides practical steps for students and school personnel during active threats.
Meanwhile, the city government reiterated its call to QC residents to call the QC Helpline 122, or the national emergency hotline 911, during emergencies and other safety concerns. "Teachers and school officials play a critical role in implementing these protocols, guiding students during emergencies, and coordinating with responders and parents to ensure every learner's safety," Belmonte said.
