Before the nationwide simultaneous school safety drill, school heads, parents, the Department of Education (DepEd) Lapu-Lapu City Division, the Lapu-Lapu City Police, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) will undergo an orientation and other preparatory exercises.

During a coordination meeting with various stakeholders, concerns raised by some parents were discussed regarding the potential impact on children if an active shooter drill is conducted in schools.

The city government emphasized that school buildings are not designed to deal with this type of threat, as classrooms are intended to serve as peace zones.

However, following a series of shooting incidents in schools and a directive from DepEd to conduct a nationwide simultaneous school safety drill for active attack incidents, DepEd has coordinated with various stakeholders to prepare students, teachers, and school staff for such threats.

“Apil ni sa atong pagpangandam, apil ni sa atong programa sa Andam Lapu-Lapu kay kuan mani siya human-induced disaster,” Lapu-Lapu City Crisis Manager, Nagiel Banacia, said.

The teachers and parents of the five pilot schools that will first conduct the active shooter drill will undergo a tabletop exercise orientation on August 25, 2026 together with DRRM personnel and the Lapu-Lapu City Police, ahead of the nationwide simultaneous school safety drill on September 3.

DepEd Lapu-Lapu will also ensure that psychological first aid is available in every school.

“Depending on the plan for tomorrow’s activity, but we will go through with the instruction of the central office on September 3, it will be simultaneous,” Lapu-Lapu City Assistant Schools Division Supt., Dr. Ronald Ferrer, said.

Following the shooting incidents at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City and Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City, licensed firearms were reportedly used by the minor shooters in both cases.

The Lapu-Lapu City Police recommended that DepEd include in its risk assessment an assessment the number of parents who own firearms.

“Ang purpose naman po natin doon sa pag-identify ng license gun owners para i-ensure na ang kanilang firearms ay hindi naa-access ng kung sino-sino lang,” Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Director, Col. Agosto Daskeo, said.

“We will supplement for additional, ask for additional instruction from our schools to look into the suggestions made earlier like if there are parents who are in possession of firearms,” Ferrer added.

Recently, parents of students at Mactan National High School were alarmed after a Grade 8 student posted an online threat.

“Niangkon ba nga joke lang daw. Pinapuntahan po natin ng Womens and DSWD pinuntahan para kausapin po yung bata for possible intervention,” Daskeo said.

However, DepEd clarified that classes at the school were not suspended.

“So far, wala mi declaration for cancellation. Wala mi nakit-an nga sakto gyud nga threat. Mura rag hype lang sa iyang social media pero so far wala man,” Ferrer said.

Banacia said after the September 3 drill, they will also meet with parents to guide them in recognizing red flags or signs that their children may be experiencing depression.

“Nakita sa security forces, sa PNP ug sa DepEd sa ilang study nga the problem started with the family. So what we are doing is proactive but mobalik gyud ta sa pamilya,” Banacia said.

Meanwhile, the administrative staff and DRRM personnel of San Roque School also visited the Cordova Police Station to seek assistance in conducting an orientation and active shooter drill at their school.

Even before DepEd issued the directive, the private school had already planned to conduct an orientation and active shooter drill for its students, particularly those in the high school level.

“Before mag simulation dapat naa gyuy oriental para dili r apud mag panic ang mga bata kay if ever ingon man gud diretso siya sa drill naa gyuy possibility nga ang mga bata mag panic kay wala man sila kahibalo ngano naay ingon ani kung diretso-diretso ra ba,” April Lyn Cuyos of DRRM San Roque School said.