MANILA, Philippines — Marikina City will install metal detectors in public and private schools and increase police and Office of Public Safety and Security (OPSS) personnel deployment as part of strengthened campus security measures following recent violent incidents involving learners, including the shooting at a school in Tacloban City last week.
Mayor Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro announced the additional interventions on Monday, after inspecting some public schools to assess existing security measures.
“During the past few days, we personally went around some of our large public schools to look at the security measures and find out what else we can add so that our students will be safer,” she said.
Teodoro said police officers and OPSS personnel were deployed in schools even before the Tacloban school shooting but the city government wants to further strengthen security to reassure parents.
Aside from metal detectors, the city government will deploy additional police personnel and roving police officers in private schools in coordination with the Marikina Private Schools Association, Inc.
The city will also tap 70 newly hired OPSS personnel to support public safety operations.
Teodoro said schools must remain safe spaces for learners, teachers, and other members of the school community.
The mayor said the additional security measures aim to keep schools safe for learners and school personnel, with the city government overseeing security preparations in 17 public elementary schools, 16 public high schools, and private institutions.
“These places should be safe havens for children, and we will do our part in the city government so students and other school faculty remain unharmed,” the mayor said.
