DepEd Caraga bats for stronger school security after Tacloban tragedy
By Niña Jonalyn B. Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga has called for intensified security measures in schools following the tragic shooting incident involving two minors at a secondary school in Tacloban City on June 22. The incident has raised widespread concern among parents and educators about the safety of students within school premises.
Regional Information Officer Pedro A. Tecson, in a radio interview, emphasized the need for school administrations across Caraga to adopt stricter protocols to safeguard learners. He cited several DepEd Orders that outline responsibilities and guidelines for ensuring student safety:
DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012 – Establishes the Child Protection Policy, mandating schools to create safe environments free from abuse, violence, and exploitation.
DepEd Order No. 65, s. 2013 – Provides guidelines on the conduct of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, ensuring student safety during events inside and outside school premises.
DepEd Order No. 7, s. 2024 – Institutionalizes the Revised School-Based Management (SBM) System, which decentralizes authority to school heads to take proactive steps in managing their institutions.
Tecson explained that these directives empower school principals and heads to implement appropriate security measures tailored to their institutions. He also highlighted DepEd’s interventions, such as counseling and student profiling, which aim to support both the learners’ physical and psychosocial well-being. “We aim that through these actions, we will be able to prevent untoward incidents from happening,” Tecson said.
He further encouraged schools to collaborate with government partners, including law enforcement agencies, local government units (LGUs), Parent-Teachers Associations (PTAs), and private stakeholders, to collectively strengthen the protection of students.
In Butuan City, some schools have already tightened their security protocols. Agusan National High School, for instance, has begun strictly implementing bag checks for students and teachers upon entry to prevent prohibited items from being brought inside the campus. This measure is seen as a proactive step to avoid incidents similar to the Tacloban tragedy.
Meanwhile, the Butuan City SPED Center has rolled out comprehensive measures, including: Strict gate control and visitor management to monitor entry and exit points; installation of CCTV cameras in critical areas to enhance surveillance; strengthened learner protection and anti-bullying programs to safeguard students’ psychosocial well-being; and the establishment of a School Threat Assessment Team to evaluate risks and respond to potential threats proactively.
The Department of Education reiterated its unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students and school personnel. By reinforcing existing policies, strengthening partnerships with stakeholders, and implementing proactive interventions, DepEd aims to foster a secure and nurturing learning environment where education can thrive free from fear and harm. (NJGD, PIA Caraga with a report from Radyo Pilipinas Butuan; Photo courtesy of ANHS-SDRRMC)
