Philippines Conducts Nationwide School Safety Drills to Enhance Emergency Preparedness

MANILA, Philippines — Simultaneous school safety drills were conducted in select public and private schools across the country yesterday to strengthen emergency preparedness and protection of learners and teachers. The Department of Education said the initiative aims to enhance multi-agency coordination during active threat scenarios, and ensure the safety and psychosocial well-being of learners. Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the drill was about making sure that schools know how to respond to an emergency. “The purpose of the drill is to help us become better prepared,” Angara said. DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla attended the drill at the Carlos F. Gonzales High School in San Rafael, Bulacan. In the Philippines, the importance of safety measures within schools has been growing in recent years, in addition to the frequent occurrence of natural disasters. In particular, past security concerns have led to discussions about the impact on schools, and such drills are considered to contribute to the peace of mind of the community. In terms of Japan-Philippines relations, the potential for Japan's technical cooperation and knowledge sharing in disaster prevention and safety measures to contribute to the strengthening of school safety in the Philippines is also suggested. Information Source: Philstar Nation