Camille Naredo

The Department of Education pilots nationwide active threat simulation drills to stress-test emergency response protocols and bolster campus security. Handout/DepEd

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DepEd

deped

Lyza Aquino

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784106653327viber_image_2026-07-15_16-20-25-453.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Department of Education pilots nationwide active threat simulation drills to stress-test emergency response protocols and bolster campus security. Handout/DepEd"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Department of Education pilots nationwide active threat simulation drills to stress-test emergency response protocols and bolster campus security. <em>Handout/DepEd</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday piloted synchronized active threat simulation drills in public schools nationwide as part of efforts to strengthen campus security and improve emergency response protocols following recent incidents of school violence.</p><p>Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the National Safe Schools Summit and Safety Drill at Manila Science High School, where students, teachers, school personnel, and local authorities participated in lockout, lockdown, and rapid evacuation simulations.</p><p>The drills tested how schools would respond to an active threat, with participants practicing lockdown procedures by barricading classrooms, switching off lights, silencing mobile devices, and remaining out of sight until authorities secured the area. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/pnp-to-assist-deped-in-nationwide-active-shooter-drills-for-schools-1638">READ: PNP to assist DepEd in nationwide active shooter drills for schools</a></div><p>Once cleared by law enforcement, teachers led students to designated reunification areas.</p><p>Angara said DepEd is also requiring all public schools to develop response plans suited to their own environments instead of relying on a uniform approach.</p><p>&quot;We are trying to improve our protocols, because you know we meron tayong mga search ng mga bags, metal detectors, in some schools merong security guards, and yet in some schools meron talagang tinago yung kutsilyo sa sapatos, sa underwear, so nakapasok pa rin. We really have to be very creative and adjust dito sa mga bagong ginagawa ng ating mga perpetrators,&quot; Angara said in an ambush interview.</p><p>The education chief said the department intends to expand the drills nationwide.</p><p>&quot;Yes we intend to roll it out, lahat. As much as we can we&#x27;ll do it as often as we can,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>-- P8 billion proposed for security measures -- </strong></div><p>Angara said DepEd is seeking around P8 billion in additional funding to improve campus security, including the hiring of security guards and procurement of metal detectors.</p><p>&quot;Yung bumibili tayo ng metal detectors, hiring security guards, pero limitado din yung pondo so in the long term we are proposing more funding from the HOR and the Senate,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Ideally 8 billion &#x27;yan,&quot; he added.</p><p>Aside from physical security upgrades, Angara said the department is strengthening learner protection mechanisms while awaiting authority to fill thousands of guidance counseling positions.</p><p>&quot;Tapos tayo dito sa schools, we are about to hire 10,000 guidance counselor associates dahil bakante po iyon. Recently na-clear na &#x27;yan sa Civil Service Commission for the qualifications, inaantay na lang natin ang pag-release ng NOSCA or yung hiring authority ng Department of Budget,&quot; Angara said.</p><p>He added that schools are activating their Learner Protection Offices and training designated faculty members to perform guidance functions where counselors are unavailable.</p><p>&quot;Ina-activate talaga natin yung learner protection offices ng mga eskwelahan and yung designated faculty members in the absence of a guidance counselor. Talagang we are making sure they received all the possible trainings,&quot; said Angara.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>-- Focus on prevention --</strong></div><p>Angara acknowledged concerns over increasing incidents of violence involving students but stressed that such cases remain relatively few compared to the country&#x27;s nearly 48,000 public schools.</p><p>&quot;Aminado naman po tayo dumadalas ang incidents of violence, sabi nga ng eksperto dahil din yan sa exposure sa mga damaging social media sites, at masasamang impluwensya, mga groomers and terrorist groups actively recruiting online,&quot; he said.</p><p>He said DepEd is working to reduce children&#x27;s exposure to harmful online content while encouraging communities to help prevent violence.</p><p>&quot;Ang importante tayo sa bawat komunidad, we are all taking, playing our part, active tayo. Gusto natin ay prevention. Kapag may nakita natin na may batang bago, i-welcome natin. Karamihan sa mga nakita nating perpetrators, they don&#x27;t feel welcome sa mga eskwelahan… medyo masama ang nagiging epekto psychologically,&quot; the secretary said.</p><p>Angara also welcomed the Philippine National Police&#x27;s commitment to increase police visibility around schools.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>-- Harmful online games -- </strong></div><p>Asked about proposals to ban violent online games, Angara said regulation may be necessary for games that promote extreme violence: &quot;Well hindi ako expert, pero definitely, yung mga damaging, nagsabi na si Pangulong Marcos, makinig tayo sa mga eksperto. Yung ibang games, yung GoreBox, very violent talaga &#x27;yun… dapat yung mga ganun, i-ban o i-regulate.&quot;</p><p>He emphasized that schools must be prepared to respond immediately during emergencies.</p><p>&quot;They really have to go to a safe place, and they lock themselves there. The point there is to subdue the assailant,&quot; said Angara. &quot;The policy really is preparation and prevention… importante ang oras at mabilis ang kilos. In incidents like this mabilis talaga ang pangyayari, importante ang awareness.&quot;</p><p>The National Safe Schools Summit gathered representatives from national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, and private institutions to harmonize school security strategies. </p><p>The discussions also covered psychological first aid, learner rights protection, cyber safety, and the use of the Special Education Fund and Adopt-a-School Program to finance security improvements such as CCTV systems and other protective equipment.</p>

<p>The Department of Education (DepEd) piloted nationwide active threat simulation drills in public schools on Wednesday as it pushes for campus security amid recent incidents in schools.</p>

The Department of Education (DepEd) piloted nationwide active threat simulation drills in public schools on Wednesday as it pushes for campus security amid recent incidents in schools.

DepEd pilots nationwide active threat drills as part of school safety summit

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DepEd pilots nationwide active threat drills as part of school safety summit

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 15, 2026 05:13 PM PHT

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Updated July 15, 2026 05:41 PM PHT

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