Elementary students arrive for the first day of classes at President Corazon C. Aquino Elementary School in Quezon City on June 16, 2025. President Corazon C. Aquino Elementary School, one of Quezon City’s largest learning institutions, reported at least 8,500 enrollees for School Year 2025–2026. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Department of Education is proposing to deploy more security guards in large public schools and provide metal detectors to schools nationwide as part of efforts to address school-related violence.
Citing budget constraints, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the department would prioritize assigning security guards to schools that have 1,000 students or more.
“Dahil napansin namin, karamihan nung mga insidente ng karahasan, nangyayari sa mga large, very large schools...So doon tayo mag-uumpisa,” Angara said on Wednesday.
(We noticed that many of the incidents of violence happened in large, very large schools... so we will start there.)
For smaller schools, Angara said DepEd would seek the assistance of barangay officials, particularly barangay tanod, to conduct regular patrols around campuses.
The education chief also said the department plans to buy metal detectors for schools to strengthen bag inspections and prevent students from bringing knives and other prohibited items to campus.
“Ilang libo lang ‘yung isang metal detector. So halos lahat ng schools, bibigyan natin ng metal detectors,” he said.
(Metal detectors only cost several thousand pesos, so we can provide that to almost all the schools.)
The proposals come after several school-related violence incidents were reported in recent months, including a fatal campus shooting in Tacloban City.
POLICE VISIBILITY, REGULAR DRILLS
Angara also welcomed plans by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to increase police presence around schools, particularly in areas where gang-related activities have been reported.
He said police officers need not be stationed inside campuses since increased visibility nearby could already help discourage crime.
He added students would be safer if “the whole community is involved.”
The education chief also pushed for schools to regularly conduct active shooter and emergency response drills so new students and staff will know what to do.
DepEd pilots nationwide active threat drills as part of school safety summit
REGULATING HARMFUL ONLINE CONTENT
Angara likewise called for stronger regulation—not an outright ban—of online content that may encourage violence among young people.
He said DepEd would coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, telecommunications companies, and social media platforms to address what he described as the "copycat effect" from violent content circulating online.
“May mga networks na talagang gina-glamorize or pinapasikat ‘yung mga ganong klaseng akto," he said.
(There are some networks that really glamorize or publicize these kinds of acts.)
He said restrictions should focus on violent content and age-inappropriate platforms rather than imposing a blanket ban on social media.
“‘So, sana ‘yung mga sites na medyo may educational purpose, huwag naman i-ban ‘yun,” he said.
(I hope that sites that can serve educational purposes won't be banned.)
Child rights org opposes blanket social media ban for minors
RELATED VIDEO: