Schools told to strengthen campus security

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Council calls for practical yet stronger campus security measures following a series of school-related incidents nationwide

This stems from a resolution filed by City Councilor Edgardo N. Labella II and approved by the City Council, urging the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office of Cebu City and all public and private schools in the city to adopt immediate, low-cost measures to safeguard learners.

The proposal calls for reducing take-home assignments so that schoolwork is completed under teacher supervision during class hours, reinforcing DepEd’s “No Homework” policy on weekends under Order No. 392, series of 2010.

It also seeks the installation of lockers and cabinets in schools to minimize the need for large bags, thereby supporting the use of smaller or transparent bags that allow for quicker inspection at school gates.

The resolution stresses that schools must remain sanctuaries for learning, free from violence and threats to the welfare of students, teachers, and personnel.

By encouraging the use of see-through bags and providing secure storage facilities, officials believe schools can more easily detect and discourage the concealment of firearms, bladed weapons, and other prohibited items.

These steps, according to the council, are simple and immediately implementable even as broader legislative reforms on gun safety and secure firearm storage remain pending.

Copies of the resolution will be furnished to the DepEd Schools Division Superintendent of Cebu City, the Committee on Education of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the Cebu City Police Office, and all public and private schools in the city for study and implementation.

The council also urged DepEd to issue guidelines in coordination with Child Protection Committees, Parent-Teacher Associations, barangays, and law enforcement authorities.

This comes following a series of unfortunate incidents in the country, the latest of which occurred on September 18, 2026, when a Grade 9 student of Banga National High School in South Cotabato opened fire inside a classroom using his father’s licensed firearm.

The weapon, taken from an unsecured gun vault at home, was smuggled onto campus despite the presence of four security guards, leaving two students dead and several others wounded and exposing critical lapses in existing safety protocols.

The South Cotabato shooting has reignited national debates on firearm regulation and school security, adding urgency to local government initiatives. — /IHM (FREEMAN)