- DepEd orders tighter entry controls; Tagbilaran deploys police, plans CCTV; Valencia activates multi-agency response
SECURITY has been tightened in schools across Bohol following threats received by several schools in the province and a deadly school shooting in Zamboanga City, prompting education officials, local governments and law enforcement agencies to step up preventive measures to protect students, teachers and school personnel.
The Department of Education (DepEd) Bohol Schools Division has ordered stricter monitoring of school entrances and is moving to acquire metal detectors, while the Tagbilaran City Government has increased police patrols and plans to install solar-powered closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in public schools. In Valencia, the municipal Incident Management Team (IMT) convened an emergency meeting to coordinate school security measures with education officials, police, the military and other government agencies.
Bohol Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Faye Luarez disclosed the heightened security measures during a meeting of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Education on August 20, chaired by Board Member Nathaniel Binlod.
Luarez said the division immediately acted on a directive from DepEd-7 Regional Director Arturo Bayocot to strictly monitor all school entrances and ensure that no deadly weapons are brought inside school premises.
Among the measures being undertaken is the acquisition of metal detectors to inspect bags and other belongings brought into schools by students and personnel.
School heads have also been directed to meet with teachers and determine preventive measures appropriate to the conditions and security concerns of their respective schools.
Student organizations have likewise been encouraged to take part in the discussions so students can provide inputs on measures intended to ensure their safety.
The heightened security came after threats were received by several schools in Catigbian, Balilihan, Clarin, Sagbayan and Ubay on August 19.
Authorities have also stepped up security following the shooting at a school in Zamboanga City that left two students dead, an incident that renewed concerns over the safety of students and school personnel.
TAGBILARAN STEPS UP PATROLS
In Tagbilaran City, the local government has intensified its Bantay Eskwela initiative covering all public elementary and high schools.
Mayor Jane Yap said the program seeks to strengthen school safety and protect students, teachers and school personnel from potential threats.
The Tagbilaran City Police Station, headed by Chief of Police Lt. Col. Joey Bicoy, has been conducting regular patrols and monitoring around schools, with police personnel deployed during class hours to increase visibility and deter possible security threats.
Aside from increased police presence, the city government plans to install solar-powered CCTV cameras in all public elementary and high schools.
The cameras will be linked to a designated command center, allowing authorities to monitor school areas in real time and respond more quickly to emergencies.
Yap said the Zamboanga shooting underscored the need for authorities and communities to take preventive action rather than wait for security incidents to occur.
She also urged parents to take an active role in protecting their children, stressing that school security is a shared responsibility among government, law enforcement agencies, schools, families and communities.
Parents were encouraged to maintain open communication with their children, ask about their experiences in school and watch for unusual changes in their behavior.
VALENCIA ACTIVATES IMT
In Valencia, the municipal government convened an emergency meeting of its Incident Management Team to assess recent school incidents and coordinate measures to strengthen the safety and security of students and school personnel.
The meeting focused on safety precautions being implemented at Valencia Technical-Vocational High School (VTVHS), Anas High School, MPOLMHS and Anoyon High School to prevent similar incidents and maintain peace and order within and around school premises.
Mayor Dionisio Neil A. Balite, J.D., Ph.D. led local government officials at the meeting, which was also attended by Vice Mayor Aristotle Cometa, Councilor Jerald Portrias and ABC President Dr. Elsa B. Galacio.
School officials present included Dr. Marychel Laguitao, newly appointed Public Schools District Supervisor and Principal IV of VTVHS; Evelyn Cirujales, School-in-Charge (SIC) of Anas High School; Jesus T. Adem, SIC of Anoyon High School; and Albert P. Butad, SIC of MPOLMHS.
Representatives of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire Protection also joined the meeting, along with officials and personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, Municipal Engineering Office and Municipal Agriculture Office, as well as barangay officials.
The multi-agency meeting was intended to establish clear lines of coordination and ensure that concerned offices and responders are prepared to act in the event of security incidents affecting schools.
The Valencia IMT said the coordinated approach is aimed at maintaining a safe and orderly environment for students, teachers and school personnel.
PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS
Luarez said DepEd Bohol’s strengthened measures are intended to improve prevention and preparedness and ensure that schools remain safe places for students and personnel.
The developments in Tagbilaran and Valencia indicate that local governments are complementing DepEd’s province-wide security measures with their own approaches — from increased police visibility and surveillance technology to multi-agency planning and emergency preparedness.
With schools across Bohol on heightened vigilance, education officials and local authorities are putting greater emphasis on prevention, preparedness and coordinated response as they move to address emerging threats to school safety. (RTB)
