DepEd to Launch Active Shooter Drills in Philippine Schools Amid Rising Violence

The Department of Education (DepEd) will launch active shooter drills in schools this week as part of its strengthened safety protocols following recent campus violence, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Wednesday. Speaking on the sidelines of the kickoff of the School-Based Feeding Program in Pulilan, Bulacan, Angara said the department has started adjusting its safety measures after what he described as the country’s first school shooting involving a student. “Nag-a-adjust tayo kasi ito yung kauna-unahang school shooting. Ibig sabihin, estudyante ang namaril,” Angara said. (We’re adjusting because this is the first school shooting in which the shooter was a student.) He said DepEd will introduce active shooter drills to guide schools on how to respond in the event of an armed attack. “Ginagawa na natin yung active shooter drills. Ano’ng gagawin kapag may shooting sa eskwelahan. May ila-launch tayo sa Biyernes na yung shooting drills ay ipapakita natin ano’ng kailangang gawin. Kapag may bumaril sa eskwelahan, lahat tayo may protocol na automatic.” (We are now implementing active shooter drills. We will launch them on Friday to demonstrate what should be done if a shooting occurs in school. Everyone will have an automatic protocol to follow.) Angara also said DepEd is seeking the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in responding to the increasing number of bomb threats received by schools. “Doon naman sa mga bomb threats, hihingi tayo ng tulong sa PNP kasi bumarami din ang bomb threat.” (As for bomb threats, we will seek the assistance of the PNP because they have also become more frequent.) He said schools need not automatically suspend classes whenever bomb threats are reported. Instead, Angara said trained police personnel, including SWAT teams, can inspect school premises while students remain in a safe area. “Yung mga sanay sa bomb threat, ang ginagawa nila, tinatawag nila ang SWAT team ng PNP. Papasok ang SWAT team… Tapos kung cleared ng SWAT team, puwede nang pumasok ulit.” (In places experienced in handling bomb threats, they call the PNP SWAT team to inspect the area. Once the team clears the school, classes can resume.) Angara also emphasized the importance of providing psychological first aid to students, teachers, parents, and school personnel affected by recent incidents. He cited the response following the fatal shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, the University of the Philippines, the local parish, and the local government helped provide psychosocial support. “Importante na ngayon yung psychological first aid kasi natatrauma yung ating mga estudyante, pati mga magulang, pamilya, teachers, pati yung mga staff ng DepEd.” (Psychological first aid is now important because not only students, but also parents, families, teachers, and DepEd personnel are experiencing trauma.) Angara said these interventions helped pave the way for the resumption of face-to-face classes at the Tacloban school earlier this week. — RSJ, GMA News