School safety has become a growing concern for local governments following recent incidents of violence on campuses. In response, the provincial government of Cebu has launched a comprehensive initiative designed to improve security measures, emergency preparedness, and student protection in both public and private schools.
Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro signed an executive order on Thursday establishing the Cebu Safe Schools Program, a province-wide effort that focuses on violence prevention, child protection, mental health support, and campus security. The move comes shortly after the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where two minors allegedly opened fire on fellow students, resulting in three deaths and 20 injuries.
Comprehensive Safety Measures Across Schools
Under the executive order, Cebu aims to institutionalize a long-term approach to school safety by involving multiple sectors in the effort. The program adopts a whole-of-government and whole-of-community strategy that brings together education officials, law enforcement agencies, local government units, parents, youth groups, civil society organizations, and private sector partners.
“Schools must remain safe, secure, inclusive and nurturing environments where learners, teachers, school personnel, parents and visitors are protected from violence, abuse, bullying, intimidation and other threats to public safety,” the executive order stated.
To oversee the initiative, the order created the Cebu Safe Schools Committee under the Provincial School Board. Baricuatro will serve as chairman, while Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Provincial Schools Division superintendent Senen Priscillo Paulin will act as vice chairman.
The committee will be responsible for crafting policies related to school security, emergency preparedness, crisis response, violence prevention, and child welfare.
90-Day Plan and Emergency Preparedness
A key component of the program is the requirement for the committee to produce a Cebu Safe Schools Plan within 90 days. The plan will include security standards, risk assessments, emergency response systems, crisis communication protocols, mental health and psychosocial support programs, monitoring mechanisms, funding requirements, and capacity-building activities.
The initiative also mandates standardized visitor management procedures, controlled access points, regular fire, earthquake, and lockdown drills, annual safety evaluations, and uniform guidelines for incident reporting and recovery efforts after emergencies.
In addition, the provincial government pledged to strengthen coordination among emergency responders, healthcare providers, and law enforcement agencies during school-related incidents.
DepEd-7 Director Arturo Bayocot emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring student welfare.
“Let us remember, it takes the entire village to educate, protect and nurture the child,” Bayocot said.
The program complements broader security measures being implemented across Central Visayas following the Tacloban tragedy.
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