THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed all local government units (LGUs) to establish Safer School Zones and deploy 277,744 barangay tanods, or village watchmen, to help protect students from crime, violence, traffic hazards and other threats around schools.
The directive comes amid heightened public concern over recent incidents of school violence.
It institutionalizes Safer School Zones under the government’s Safer Cities and Safer Communities Initiative, requiring governors, city and municipal mayors, punong barangay, the Philippine National Police and other stakeholders to strengthen safety and security measures around both public and private schools.
“Schools must remain places of learning, not places of fear. Through Safer School Zones, local governments, barangay, schools, law enforcement agencies, parents and communities will work together to better protect every learner,” the DILG said.
LGUs are instructed to identify and address safety and security risks within school zones, including unsafe roads and pedestrian facilities, speeding vehicles, fire and disaster hazards, and other threats to students.
They are also encouraged to pass or strengthen ordinances covering traffic management, pedestrian safety, crime prevention, violence prevention and public order in areas surrounding schools.
The DILG said tanods will serve as force multipliers, maintaining a visible presence near schools, conducting roving patrols, assisting in traffic management, providing immediate assistance and reporting incidents to the proper authorities.
The tanods’ operations are limited to areas outside school premises, unless they are authorized by school officials or immediate lawful assistance is necessary. They will also be unarmed and immediately refer any incident requiring police, fire, medical, social welfare or other specialized response to the proper agencies.
Based on DILG data, there are 277,744 tanods in the country’s 42,010 barangay (villages).
The DILG said the Safer School Zones program aims to strengthen coordination among local governments, schools, law enforcement agencies and communities to ensure learners can study in a safe and secure environment.
