KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — Face-to-face classes in all public and private schools in Norala, South Cotabato, will be suspended on Monday, September 21, as local officials and education authorities hold a meeting to review and strengthen school safety measures following the deadly shooting at Banga National High School.
The suspension was announced by the Norala municipal government as authorities assess additional measures to protect students, teachers and school personnel following Friday’s shooting in neighboring Banga town.
The move comes just days after a 16-year-old student allegedly shot fellow students at Banga National High School on September 18, killing two students before taking his own life. Reuters reported that eight other students were injured, with four initially reported to be in critical condition.
The incident has prompted renewed attention to school security across South Cotabato and the wider SOCCSKSARGEN region.
Norala schools to shift away from in-person classes
The temporary suspension in Norala is intended to give local and education officials time to discuss school security and determine what additional precautions may be needed before students return to classrooms.
The action follows a broader push by authorities to strengthen security in schools following a series of violent incidents involving students in the Philippines.
The Philippine Information Agency reported earlier this month that the South Cotabato Police Office had already intensified school security, including increased police presence before classes begin, coordination with school authorities and the use of digital monitoring tools.
Police have also encouraged communities to involve barangay peacekeeping teams and local tanods in efforts to reinforce school security.
Deadly Banga shooting raises wider safety concerns
The September 18 shooting at Banga National High School has become a major focus of the province’s school-safety response.
According to Reuters, the suspect allegedly used a 9-mm pistol belonging to his father, a Department of Education employee. Authorities said the firearm had been stored in a secured vault, which the teenager reportedly broke into before bringing the weapon to school.
Investigators are also examining whether an online community reportedly associated with the teenager had any connection to the attack. South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. has asked the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group to investigate the online group. Provincial officials stressed that authorities are still determining whether there was any connection.
Authorities have also urged gun owners to ensure firearms cannot be accessed by minors.
DepEd steps up support and security measures
The Department of Education said the safety and well-being of learners, teachers and school personnel remain its priority following the Banga incident.
DepEd said it was coordinating with the Schools Division Office, regional officials, local authorities and law enforcement agencies while providing assistance to those affected. Psychological first aid and psychosocial support were also identified as part of the response.
The department has also urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information while the investigation continues.
The response comes shortly after DepEd conducted nationwide school safety drills earlier in September, designed to improve preparedness for active threats and other emergencies.
Security measures were already being strengthened
The suspension in Norala is not an isolated response.
Before the Banga shooting, the South Cotabato police had announced intensified school-security measures across the region. The PIA reported that police were maintaining visibility around schools and working with education officials on campus safety, crime prevention and emergency preparedness.
In July, the DepEd SOCCSKSARGEN regional office and Police Regional Office 12 also formalized an agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation on creating safe and motivating learning environments, including campus security, crime prevention and emergency preparedness.
The latest suspension in Norala therefore places the focus squarely on how existing safety measures can be strengthened and what additional safeguards may be necessary.
What happens next?
For students and parents in Norala, September 21 will be a non-face-to-face school day while officials conduct their safety meeting.
The bigger issue now is what measures will emerge from that discussion—and whether additional security protocols will be introduced in schools across South Cotabato.
With authorities continuing to investigate the Banga shooting, officials are also facing questions about firearm storage, school access controls, police visibility, emergency preparedness and the possible influence of harmful online communities.
For now, authorities continue to emphasize that the investigation is ongoing and that unverified claims should not be circulated.
The immediate goal is clear: strengthen school safety before students return to classrooms.
