DepEd to hold active‑threat drill following recent school attacks

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday seeks to further advance nationwide security and campus safety after recent shooting incidents in Tacloban and Zamboanga City.

The activity will launch on August 25, with schools across the country simultaneously testing how quickly they can respond, evacuate, and reunite students with their families during an active human‑induced threat.

DepEd finalized the exercise protocols with the Philippine National Police (PNP) after first piloting them at Manila Science High School.

“We will be rolling out the nationwide simultaneous drill for August 25. Next week po yan, Madam Chair,” DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said during a Senate hearing.

The urgency of the drill was underscored by the August 18 Zamboanga school shooting, which happened despite police assurances of tighter campus security following the June Tacloban attack that killed three students and wounded at least 20 others.

Unlike regular earthquake drills, the exercise will measure how teachers and students respond during a man‑made threat and in the moments that follow.

The protocol was drawn up after DepEd reviewed the Tacloban shooting, where Garma noted that confusion spread because students and parents did not immediately know where to go.

“Isa pong bagay na natutunan namin at sana ma‑institutionalize na po natin is really the need for the drills,” he said.

He explained that a key part of the drill will focus on guiding students, parents, responders, and police to assigned areas, ensuring order and safety instead of crowding around the school.

“Malaking bahagi po dun sa drills namin yung tinatawag po namin reunification stage kung saan alam ho ng mga involved kung saan pupunta, saan mag‑iipon‑ipon together with the medical responders, the police enforcers, nasa isang lugar,” Garma added.

The nationwide exercise will be conducted in cooperation with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Garma stressed that readiness itself can discourage attacks, since having set procedures shows that schools are prepared to respond quickly to violence.

“Importante yung preparation and readiness and awareness ng school to react, immediately to react kung meron hong ganitong ongoing threat,” he said.