TO ENHANCE the safety of learners in public schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Wednesday that it is planning to introduce active shooter drills.

This is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the well-being of learners, following a series of school violence incidents in select parts of the country.

In an ambush interview at the sidelines of the expanded School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) rollout at Pulilan Central School in Bulacan, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the initiative will allow learners to prepare for on-campus violence.

“May ilo-launch tayo sa Biyernes: ‘yung shooting drill na ipapakita natin kung ano ang kailangang gawin kapag may bumaril sa isang eskwelahan. May protocol na tayong automatic (By Friday, we will launch the shooting drill to demonstrate what must be done if there’s an active shooter in schools. We already have an automatic protocol),” he said.

The education chief said this is part of the intensified security measures and adjustments in public schools.

“Nag-aadjust tayo kasi ito ‘yung kauna-unahang school shooting. Ibig sabihin ‘yung estudyante ‘yung namaril (We are adjusting because this is the very first school shooting, meaning the student is the shooter),” Angara said.

Besides this, the DepEd will also advance efforts in addressing bomb threats in schools.

Angara said some have immediate protocols, while other school administrations are imposing class suspensions.

“Sa mga sanay na sa bomb threat, ang ginagawa nila, tinatawag nila ‘yung (For those who are used to bomb threats, what they are doing is they are calling) SWAT teams,” he added.

To date, he said the DepEd will work closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to address the matter.

Earlier, the DepEd vowed to coordinate with law enforcement agencies to safeguard learners, as well as teaching and non-teaching personnel, with the eyed increased police visibility in schools.

The drills will be launched after a tragic shooting at San Jose National High School on June 22, where three died, and others were injured following the attack by two students. (PNA)