Philippine Education Department Reviews School Safety Rules After Tacloban Shooting

Two minors, aged 14 and 15, were arrested after the attack that killed three students and injured 20 others. Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the department's March guidelines do not address active shooter situations. He stated that new procedures are needed for lockdown responses and minimizing casualties during such incidents.

Current Safety Measures Department Order No.

6, issued in March, requires schools to maintain learner handbooks, adopt anti-bullying policies, and prohibit hazing along with fraternities and sororities. Schools must hire security personnel, enforce visitor identification rules, and conduct plain-view vehicle inspections.

Banned items include firearms, explosives, hazardous chemicals, and illegal substances. Bag inspections are conducted using electronic scanners or metal detectors, with physical pat-downs prohibited except under reasonable suspicion and in the principal's office.

Following the shooting, Tacloban City implemented stricter entry procedures that created long queues at school entrances. Angara ordered a nationwide school safety audit, increased police visibility, and a review of existing policies. Philippine National Police spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co said the agency will coordinate with local government units for additional monitoring support.

>"It’s something we never thought was applicable. We just have to update it: What to do when you are trapped?