DepEd pilots active threat drills in schools to prevent incidents

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday conducted nationwide pilot active threat simulation drills to assess emergency response measures and strengthen campus security following recent school violence incidents

READ: LIST: 15 cases of school violence lead to deaths, injuries in 3 weeks

The National Safe Schools Summit and Safety Drill was held at Manila Science High School, where students, teachers, and local authorities carried out synchronized lockout, lockdown, and evacuation exercises to prepare schools for potential security threats.

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“This fight is not DepEd’s fight alone; it is a challenge we must face together, especially given the complexities we have seen in recent weeks,” Angara said in a statement on Wednesday.

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“We rely on the active support of our parents, families, communities, local governments, and our partners across all levels of government to ensure our schools remain safe havens,” he added.

He directed all public schools to craft active threat response plans suited to their unique settings, emphasizing localized and immediate responses rather than a uniform approach.

READ: ‘Do it safely’: Psychologist cautions DepEd on active shooter drills

During the simulations, participants practiced lockdown procedures for situations in which evacuation was not immediately possible.

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Students and teachers secured classrooms by locking and barricading entry points, turning off lights, silencing devices, and remaining out of sight until authorities neutralized the threat.

Once the threat was cleared, students were escorted to designated reunification areas.

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“Our focus is on proactive prevention and readiness because adhering to safety protocols is a vital step in saving lives,” Angara said.

Breakout sessions tackled school contingency planning, psychological first aid, learner rights protection, and cyber safety.

Participants also discussed leveraging the Adopt-a-School Program and the Special Education Fund to support security upgrades, such as CCTV installations and other essential equipment.

“We can no longer allow security threats to place the lives of our learners in harm’s way,” Angara said.

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“It is important that we are prepared to face any threat. No family should ever have to grieve again because of a tragedy in school,” he added. /mcm