DepEd to Seek Additional Funds for More Security Guards in Public Schools

The Department of Education (DepEd) will seek additional funding to hire more security guards in public schools as it steps up efforts to strengthen campus safety following recent incidents involving learners. On Monday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the department plans to request additional budget from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to address the shortage of security personnel in schools nationwide. “Siguro kailangan natin ng pondo para sa security guards. ’Yan ang importante,” Angara said in an ambush interview at Alfonso Castañeda National High School in Nueva Vizcaya. (We probably need funding for security guards. That is what’s important.) Angara said the shortage stemmed from the nationalization of positions before he assumed office, leaving only about 200 plantilla positions for security guards despite the country’s more than 48,000 public schools. “Noong bago pa ako na-appoint… nagkaroon ng nationalization. Tinanggal ’yung puwesto ng mga security guard. Ang iniwan na lang mga 200. Kung titingnan natin, nasa 48,000 ang mga school. Yung ibang school, kailangan ng more than one security guard, so kulang na kulang ang mga plantilla item natin para sa security guards,” he said. (Before I was appointed, there was nationalization. The positions for security guards were removed, leaving only around 200 plantilla positions. Considering we have about 48,000 schools, and some schools need more than one security guard, our plantilla positions are clearly insufficient.) He said DepEd would ask the DBM to create additional plantilla positions for security personnel. The Education chief made the remarks as the department continues conducting safety audits in schools following recent campus incidents, including the shooting at San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City on June 22 where three students were killed and 20 others injured. “Nagche-check lang tayo sa safety protocols ng ating mga eskwelahan dahil maraming insidente ngayon. Habang nag-a-audit tayo ng mga pangangailangan ng schools, inoobserbahan din natin ang mga eskwelahan natin,” Angara said. (We are checking our schools’ safety protocols because of the many recent incidents. While we are auditing the needs of schools, we are also assessing their safety measures.) He stressed that ensuring learners’ safety remains DepEd’s top priority. “Number one priority dapat ang safety. Kahit maganda ang itinuturo natin, kung pakiramdam ng mga magulang at estudyante ay hindi sila ligtas sa eskwelahan, mahihirapan din tayo,” Angara said. (Safety should be our number one priority. No matter how good our instruction is, if parents and students do not feel safe in school, it will be difficult for us.) Asked about concerns over minors driving to school, Angara said parents and local government units could help provide safer transportation options for students. “Siguro dapat ang mga magulang o kaya ang local government tumulong sa transportasyon,” he added. (Perhaps parents or local government units should help provide transportation.) — RSJ, GMA News