THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday launched a safety drill that aims to demonstrate protocols in mitigating school violence.
The agency’s National Safe Schools Summit and Safety drill was piloted at the Manila Science High School, where about 1,751 students from Grades 7 to 12 participated.
The drill showcased several scenarios of what the students should do in case a shooter enters the school premises.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said that the agency is actively coordinating with regional directors and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to integrate these drills as standard, recurring protocols in public and private schools.
Angara emphasized that “preparation and prevention” are the core focus of the new policy.
During the pilot activity, Angara said security experts observed that while participants performed well, hesitation and physical fatigue remain crucial factors. He highlighted the necessity of muscle memory in life-or-death situations, such as barricading doors.
“It is important to be on time and to move fast because in incidents like this, everything happens very quickly,” Angara said.
The drills, which will run continuously on a rotating basis across the country, aim to establish clear, automatic reflexes for students and teachers alike.
Addressing the anxieties of parents and students, Angara acknowledged the rising threats coming from the digital sphere, including exposure to violent video games, online groomers and extremist recruitment.
Specifically pointing out the violent online game “GoreBox” — where players organize virtual gangs to inflict harm — Angara voiced support for tighter regulations.
“If we have to ban them, we should ban them. President [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.] said we must listen to the experts who understand these psychological dangers.” Beyond digital threats, DepEd is closely watching the post-pandemic resurgence of street and classroom gangs.
The secretary noted that the PNP has pledged to boost police visibility around campuses to deter gang assemblies.
Angara also emphasized the psychological component of campus violence, urging educators and communities to foster inclusivity.
“We noticed that most of these perpetrators do not feel welcome in school. They feel neglected, which causes a devastating psychological effect. If we see new kids, we must welcome them,” Angara said.
To standardize these security measures across the country’s estimated 47,000 to 48,000 public schools, DepEd is preparing a major budget proposal.
Angara revealed that the department plans to pitch a budget increase to Congress.
If approved, this budget will be used to systematically hire professional security guards and purchase handheld metal detectors for all campuses nationwide.
