Philippines conducts school shooter safety drills

Thairath•International•6d ago

Reader Briefing

The Philippine Department of Education has implemented nationwide emergency drills to prepare students and staff for armed intruders following two recent school shootings.

•The Philippine Department of Education led nationwide drills for responding to armed intruders in schools.
•Approximately 3,000 secondary students at Carlos F. Gonzalez High School in Bulacan participated in a safety drill.
•The drills were prompted by two school shooting incidents occurring within the past few months in the Philippines.
•The Department of Education adjusted the drills to prohibit realistic violent simulations to protect children's mental health.

Overview

•The Philippines has faced two school shooting incidents in recent months, which are rare occurrences in the country.
•The Philippine Department of Education conducted drills where students at Carlos F. Gonzalez High School locked doors, blocked entrances with furniture, and hid under desks.
•The Philippine Department of Education prohibited realistic violent simulations during drills to prevent long-term psychological impact on children.
•Malcolm Garma, Permanent Secretary of the Philippine Department of Education, stated that drills are necessary as schools are familiar with fire and earthquake drills but not armed threats.
•The drill in Bulacan lasted approximately 12 minutes and involved 250 police, rescue workers, and school personnel.
•Jonvic Remulla, Minister of the Interior and Local Government, stated the drills test coordination between local police and emergency units.
•The Philippine Department of Education integrated the Unified 911 system from the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government for faster emergency reporting.
•The Philippine Department of Education operates these drills under the "Do No Harm" principle, involving mental health experts to assess and improve guidelines.

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Key Entities

Organization

Philippine Department of Education(กระทรวงศึกษาธิการฟิลิปปินส์)ℹ️

The government body leading nationwide emergency drills to protect students from armed intruders.

Carlos F. Gonzalez High School(โรงเรียนมัธยมคาร์ลอส เอฟ. กอนซาเลซ)

A school in Bulacan where approximately 3,000 students participated in safety drills.

Infant Jesus Academy, Kalibo Campus(Infant Jesus Academy วิทยาเขตคาลิโบ)

An educational institution led by Karina Mallonga.

Ministry of the Interior and Local Government(กระทรวงมหาดไทยและรัฐบาลท้องถิ่น)ℹ️

The government ministry overseeing the Unified 911 system and local government coordination.

Place

Bulacan(บูลากัน)ℹ️

A province north of Manila where school safety drills were conducted.

Manila(มะนิลา)ℹ️

The capital city of the Philippines.

Person

Malcolm Garma(มัลคอล์ม การ์มา)

The Permanent Secretary of the Philippine Department of Education.

Roy Fama(รอย ฟามา)

A teacher at Carlos F. Gonzalez High School.

April Tapion(เอพริล ทาปิออน)

A parent of students in grade 5 and secondary grade 2 who expressed concern over the drills.

Karina Mallonga(คารินา มัลลองกา)

The Director of Infant Jesus Academy, Kalibo Campus.

Jonvic Remulla(จอนวิก เรมุลลา)ℹ️

The Minister of the Interior and Local Government.

Policy

Unified 911

An emergency reporting system used to connect schools to the nearest police stations.

Do No Harm

The guiding principle used by the Philippine Department of Education for nationwide safety drills.