The Department of Education announced a major campus security upgrade Wednesday, rolling out active attacker protocols and tighter gate screening for the city’s public schools.
Education program supervisor Sydney Shan Cariño and DRRM Officer Clifftone Bangse-il, both from the Baguio City Schools Division Office detailed plans to fortify local campuses against potential threats during a recent press conference at the Baguio City Hall.
As part of the rollout, Fort Del Pilar National High School and Baguio City National High School presented their active attacker action plans Tuesday to the Philippine National Police and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The schools are refining the plans for submission this Friday, ahead of staff-only tabletop exercises.
“We want school personnel to know the protocols first. We also have to avoid surprise drills and we will absolutely not have anyone dress up as an attacker to prevent traumatizing the children,” Cariño said.
To address a shortage of security guards, campuses are implementing a single-entrance policy and evaluating the hiring of in-house guards depending on their respective budgets.
Volunteers from the Parent-Teacher Association will also assist school staff during upcoming safety simulations through the “Kaagapay Program.”
Bangse-il added public schools are looking to realign their Annual Implementation Plans to fund hand-held metal detectors for every campus to ensure stricter gate inspections. If a metal detector is triggered, students must open their own bags and pockets, while PNP personnel will remain purely as observers.
For younger learners, stricter dismissal protocols are being established. The Baguio City SPED Center is implementing a strict “Fetcher’s ID” system, which mandates that no child will be released to an adult without the official card.
Addressing mental health support, Cariño clarified that while public schools currently lack on-site psychologists, guidance counselors are stationed to assist students, primarily across the city’s medium and large campuses.
The officials credited the local barangays, the city local government unit, the National Police Commission, the PNP and the CDRRMO for their collaboration on the security measures.
“DepEd alone cannot do this, so we need everyone’s help,” Cliffton said. Noemi Salatic | UC Intern
