THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) will request for more permanent positions for security guards in public schools amid recent violence involving students.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the agency needs to increase the number of plantilla items or permanent positions to boost security measures.

“Siguro kailangan natin ng pondo o posisyon para sa security guard. Iyon ang pinaka-importante (Perhaps we need funds or a position for security guards, that’s the most important),” he said in an interview on the sidelines of a targeted safety inspection at Alfonso Castañeda National High School in Nueva Vizcaya on Monday.

He said the current public school system has a minimal security force due to rationalization, which was implemented before he assumed his post.

“Ang iniwan na lang ay mga 200. Eh kung titingnan, 48,000 ang schools natin, so matindi (What’s left is only about 200. But if you look into it, we have 48,000 schools. So, that’s extreme),” Angara said.

The disparity between the current security manpower and school populations further underscores the need for more plantilla positions.

“‘Yung ibang school, kailangan ng more than one security guard so kulang na kulang ‘yung mga plantilla items natin (Other schools need more than one security guard, so our plantilla items are significantly lacking),” Angara said.

Angara said he would submit their request for additional funding from the Department of Budget and Management. (PNA)