ZAMBOANGA CITY — In support of the directive of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, school communities under the Department of Education (DepEd) Zamboanga City have united to strengthen their shared governance network and local coordination to reinforce campus security and ensure the welfare of students and teachers, following a recent incident of violence at a school in the city.
This intensified response followed Secretary Angara’s visit to Ateneo de Zamboanga University on Wednesday to extend support and assess safety concerns.
In a meeting held on Thursday, DepEd Region IX Regional Director Ronelo Al Firmo met with school heads to reiterate Secretary Angara’s directive to tighten security protocols while also prioritizing the mental health and psychosocial welfare of students and personnel.
“Hindi natin hahayaang malagay sa panganib ang ating mga mag-aaral. Under the mandate of President Bongbong Marcos, our top priority is to make our schools safe havens for learning,” nauna nang pinahayag ni Angara.
(We will not allow our students to be put at risk. Under the mandate of President Bongbong Marcos, our top priority is to make our schools safe havens for learning.)
“Kaya lalo nating hihigpitan ang koordinasyon sa ating mga partner at stakeholder—from local officials to law enforcement—to ensure that our children can learn without fear.”
(That is why we will further strengthen coordination with our partners and stakeholders—from local officials to law enforcement—to ensure that our children can learn without fear.)
On Thursday, Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla also visited Ateneo de Zamboanga University to strengthen inter-agency coordination and cooperation.
Regional Director Firmo also stressed the importance of collective governance with parents, local government units, law enforcement, and community partners to reinforce security measures in schools.
Among the measures being implemented are early threat monitoring, increased police visibility around schools, stricter campus access control, and the installation of metal detectors, in line with the DepEd Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment (ESMLE) and child protection policies.
Firmo also personally visited Maria Clara L. Lobregat National High School (MCLNHS) after the school received an online threat, to ensure immediate intervention together with school officials, involved students, and their parents.
DepEd strongly warned against prank or fabricated school security threats and the spread of unverified information, emphasizing that such irresponsible actions create fear, disrupt learning, and carry serious legal consequences.
The Department also urged parents, guardians, and gun owners to ensure the safe storage of firearms at home to prevent them from falling into the hands of minors and to protect children both at home and in school.
School leaders in Zamboanga City expressed full support for the security protocols and the development of supportive learning environments.
“As a school principal, it’s an eye-opener that we have to double our efforts to secure our learners, and we have to be cognizant that if we see even a small problem, we already have to take action on that before they escalate,” Aca-ac said.
“We are reminded that a safe and supportive environment is a fundamental requirement for effective learning. We must continue strengthening our system for prevention, preparedness, child protection, and the overall wellbeing of our learners and teachers,” Zapanta added.
“We have open communication with parents, other stakeholders, and police stations to help us in case of an emergency. In the classroom, teachers give activities that are aligned with their lesson to check on the learners’ emotional state,” Bernardo said.
In response to the incident, DepEd immediately deployed personnel to provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) and psychosocial support to affected students, parents, and teachers in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) under a whole-of-nation approach.
Through sustained coordination, DepEd remains committed to implementing comprehensive measures to protect school communities across the country. PR
