Rowegie Abanto

Commission on Higher Education. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File.

Article (news)

Allison Co

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/178781117328120170927-ched-md-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Commission on Higher Education. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATE</strong>) — Following school violence incidents across the country, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno questioned the appropriateness and safety of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) school safety drills.</p><p>CHED said the implementation of school safety drills is at the discretion of higher education institutions. However, it maintained that the agency has mental health guidelines and initiatives in place that prioritize students’ well-being.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/25/pnp-deped-to-refine-school-safety-drills-dilg-seeks-tougher-gun-law-1015">PNP, DepEd to refine school safety drills; DILG seeks tougher gun law</a></div><p>During CHED’s budget hearing at Congress on Thursday, Diokno cited concerns from the Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or Psychology, which warned that hyperrealistic school violence drills could heighten anxiety by 40 percent among students instead of preparing them for such incidents.</p><p>“Nababahala sila doon sa hyperrealistic scenarios of violence dahil sa kanilang pag-aaral and based on many psychological studies, hindi nakakatulong yung very realistic na simulation of school attacks,” he said.</p><p>“I hope that the CHED would take cognizance of this and would also take that into consideration in developing your drills,” Diokno added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/24/student-safety-requires-more-than-tighter-security-house-members-say-1855">Student safety requires more than tighter security, House members say</a></div><p>CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, however, assured the lawmaker that the agency was coordinating with the Philippine Psychiatric Association, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Education (DepEd) in implementing the drills.</p><p>“And we also partner now with the Philippine Psychiatric Association of the Philippines. In fact, we gave them some funding to develop a module to take charge of the mental health program,” she said.</p><p>“Again, these are another challenges and struggles that we need to face. No backing out,” Agrupis added.</p><p>The agency added it already implements health and well-being monitoring instruments, mental health summits and seminars, anti-terrorism training, and faculty upskilling.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/24/deped-postpones-nationwide-live-shooter-drills-0917">DepEd postpones nationwide &#x27;live-shooter&#x27; drills: &#x27;Nakikinig kami sa mga eksperto&#x27;</a></div><p>Agrupis noted that additional funding next year would allow the agency to implement more initiatives addressing the prevalence of school violence.</p><p>“Slowly but surely, but we have gone so far. With proper funding, there is no reason not to do more,” she said.</p><p>Agrupis earlier presented CHED’s proposed total budget of P70.2 billion for 2027, noting, however, that the National Expenditure Program (NEP) allocated only P35.43 billion.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u6ICdW-s0vo?&amp;t=2s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Following school violence incidents across the country, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno questioned the appropriateness and safety of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) school safety drills.</p>

Following school violence incidents across the country, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno questioned the appropriateness and safety of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) school safety drills.

Chel Diokno raises concern over potential psychological impact of school safety drills

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Chel Diokno raises concern over potential psychological impact of school safety drills

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 27, 2026 02:23 PM PHT

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Updated August 27, 2026 07:50 PM PHT

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Chel Diokno

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