Council seeks X-ray baggage scanners for public schools

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has asked the Department of Transportation’s Office of Transportation Security (OTS) to donate or transfer single-view X-ray baggage inspection machines to public schools.

The council likewise expressed strong support for Senate Bill No. 2390, the Comprehensive School Safety Act, in an effort to strengthen protection for students, teachers, and school personnel against violence and other threats.

Councilor David Tumulak, in an approved resolution, urged the OTS to provide Cebu City with available or unused X-ray baggage inspection machines that can be deployed in public schools.

The measure stresses that the machines would help screen bags for prohibited or dangerous items, adding another layer of security within campuses.

It also requires that any donated equipment undergo technical inspection to ensure safety, functionality, and serviceability before installation.

Tumulak emphasized that the deployment of such machines would directly support the city’s efforts to create safer learning environments.

Meanwhile, Councilor Winston Pepito also pushed a resolution backing Senate Bill No. 2390, authored by Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV.

The proposed law seeks to institutionalize a National Comprehensive School Safety Framework that establishes standards for violence prevention, emergency preparedness, digital safety, learner well-being, and psychosocial support.

It mandates every school to prepare a School Safety Plan and maintain a School Safety Handbook tailored to its specific risks and circumstances.

The bill also requires the designation of key safety personnel, including counselors, safety officers, and security staff, while promoting learner participation in safety initiatives and coordination among schools, local governments, and national agencies.

Pepito stressed that the measure would benefit more than 400 public and private schools in Cebu City by ensuring a nationally supported framework for school safety.

The council pointed out that existing policies remain fragmented and reactive, leaving schools vulnerable to tragedies such as the Tacloban shooting in June that killed three students and injured at least 20 others.

Copies of the resolutions will be furnished to the OTS, the Senate, the Department of Education, and the Office of the City Mayor for appropriate action. — /MRM (FREEMAN)