Schools in the regions have tightened security measures and strengthened bag inspections following recent incidents of violence involving students in other parts of the country.

Education and police officials said heightened security protocols are now being implemented in schools across the province after the fatal shooting of two minor students inside a school in Tacloban City and a separate incident involving a Grade 8 student who allegedly brandished a knife inside a private school in General Trias, Cavite.

The incidents have raised concerns among parents and school administrators about the safety of learners.

In Dagupan City, the police and the Department of Education have strengthened campus security measures, including stricter inspections at school entrances and increased police visibility.

“Naalarma kami bilang magulang dito sa paaralan. Kailangan na bantay-sarado ng mga kapulisan para magkaroon tayo ng peace of mind,” Mercedes Santos, whose grandchild studies at Dagupan City National High School, said.

The Dagupan City Police Office said around 80 police officers have been deployed to 45 public schools as part of preventive security measures.

“Maglagay po tayo ng pulis kada school natin para magkaroon tayo ng preemptive measures at hindi na maulit ‘yung mga incident sa schools,” Police Colonel Arnold Solomon, director of the Dagupan City Police Office, said.

Meanwhile, the Schools Division Office for Districts 9 and 10 has directed schools to strengthen safety and security measures.

“Lahat ng guidelines for the safety of our learners based on the DepEd rules talagang reactivated at heightened. Naka-red alert na kami,” Public Schools District Supervisor Dr. Edwin Ferrer said.

REINFORCED SECURITY PERSONNEL

In Calasiao, school officials at Calasiao Comprehensive National High School reviewed and reinforced their learner safety protocols, focusing on stricter inspections at school gates.

Security guards now use metal detectors and conduct tighter bag checks to prevent prohibited items from entering campus.

Principal IV Dr. Carina Untalasco said the school continues to follow its learner safety and security plan while coordinating with teachers and guidance personnel.

Students said the stricter inspections help ensure a safer school environment.

“Kasi po para malaman kung ano po yung laman ng gamit… kung may dalang kutsilyo o mga matutulis na bagay… maganda para matignan ng mga guard,” Grade 9 student Jasper Umagtan said.

The Calasiao Police Station said it continues to coordinate with school officials through regular visits and dialogue.

Authorities said monitoring of school entrances and exits will continue throughout the school year.

STRICTER "NO ID, NO ENTRY" POLICIES

In Davao City, DepEd officials said schools have strengthened security measures, including strict implementation of a “No ID, No Entry” policy for students, staff, and visitors.

The Department of Education (DepEd) in Davao City has beefed up security measures in schools following the deadly shooting incident at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City and other violent incidents reported in other schools across the country.

DepEd Davao City said as part of strengthened safety measures, schools are strictly implementing a “No ID, No Entry” policy for all students, staff, and visitors.

Bag inspections are also being conducted at school gates, while proper registration and the entry of complete information in the logbook are also strictly enforced for all guests and other individuals entering the campus.

At Davao City National High School, strict security measures are nothing new as students have become accustomed to undergoing inspections every time they enter the school, where security personnel check the belongings they bring onto campus.

“Aduna kitay siyam ka security personnel unya as of now naa tay duha ka CSU nalang. Ang atong mga best practices diri is that pagsulod jud sa atong estudyante considering nga perti ani nilang daghana. Gi-implement gyud nato ang pacheck sa ilang mga bags, belongings, ang atong mga guards naa gyud na silay stick,” Davao City National High School Principal, Evelyn Magno, said.

Aside from its own security personnel, police officers and personnel from the Davao City Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) have also been deployed to help ensure the safety and security of the school.

School officials have also requested additional PSSO personnel to further strengthen campus security.

“Usahay naay dala nga mga scissors. Ginaconfiscate gyud na siya and then gina-endorse sa atong guidance advocates office. Now, if ever naa silay makuha, we call the attention sa mga ginikanan and then why is it so nga nagdala sila mga ing-ana,” Magno said.

The school is also surrounded with more than 100 CCTV cameras, where activities in school buildings are monitored.

At Mintal Comprehensive High School, school authorities also use handheld metal detectors to inspect bags and other belongings.

The school also enforces a “No ID, No Entry” policy to prevent unauthorized individuals and outsiders from entering the premises.

“Kung dili mga taga diha or dili estudyante, so, aduna gayud dapt silay policy nga macontrol ang access sa sulod sa eskwelahan,” Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Spokesperson, Major Maria Teresita Gaspan, said.

Authorities said that in the shooting incident involving two students at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on Monday, which left three people dead and 20 others injured, one of the suspects reportedly claimed he was influenced by an online gaming application, according to Police Regional Office 8.

Police also said the attack was allegedly planned for more than a month.

A psychologist said that one factor contributing to problematic behavior among young people is modelling, or the tendency to imitate information and behavior they are exposed to.

“Because of social media, ang mga estudyante pwede sila maka-access og information nga miskan pa og dili appropriate sa ilang edad makit-an nila. In relation man gud sa Tacloban nga incident, the school shooting is not really something new already because it has been a news in the west particularly sa America. So, kana man gud nga mga balita, accessible kayo na siya sa social media platforms on what has happened and because of that it gives a certain suggestability sa mga estudyante. So, mao ng delikado kay ang modelling they tend to follow something that they have learned from other sources of information,” LSL Counseling & Testing Head Psychologist, Bonnie Junell Abanid, said.

He added that young people are also said to have higher impulsivity, or the tendency to act without considering the long-term consequences of their actions.

“These are developmentally typical for teenagers. So, that’s why ang mga batan-on, ginaguide gyud na sila o gina-guard kung unsa ang content nga ma-expose sila kay makaapekto na the way they think and the way that they do things,” Abanid added.

Abanid also said while guidance in schools and communities is important, it should start within the family first.

Parents should be the first to identify and address the problems of their children and later coordinate with teachers, as the school serves as a second home, and friends who also influence them.

“Ang family I see it as a ministry. Ang pamilya mas maayo jud magsabay magkaon. Unya kung magkaon og sabay, dili mangasaba ang parents, make dinner time a happy time. So, kana nga time naay sharing ba, naay monitoring, naa nakay makita nga indicators nga murag dili naman okay ang akong anak,” Abanid said.

(with reports from Sendee Salvacio and CJ Torida, GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon; and, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao)