The Department of Education-Davao Region is strengthening security measures in schools after a regional audit identified significant differences in the availability of guards, surveillance equipment, emergency communication systems and police visibility.
DepEd-Davao Regional Director Maria Ines C. Asuncion presented the latest security assessment during the Third Quarter Full Council Meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council XI.
The audit covered 99.59 percent of public and private schools across Davao Region, providing the agency with a broad picture of existing security arrangements and areas requiring additional support.
DepEd-Davao currently serves 1,317,420 learners and 56,701 personnel across 2,703 schools. These include 2,233 public schools and 470 private schools.
The assessment found that 77.86 percent of schools have security guards, while 97.57 percent have perimeter fencing.
However, other security measures remain less widely available. Only 48.61 percent of schools reported having public address systems, 49.23 percent have metal detectors, 47.95 percent have closed-circuit television cameras and 33.46 percent reported police visibility in their areas.
The figures for public schools show similar gaps.
Of the region’s public schools, 2,230, or 99.87 percent, submitted security deployment reports. The reports showed that 93 percent have perimeter fences and 73 percent have security guards. Meanwhile, 44 percent have public address systems, 39 percent have CCTV cameras, 35 percent have metal detectors and 28 percent reported police presence.
Asuncion said the assessment demonstrates that basic security measures are already present in many schools but also shows where improvements are still needed.
DepEd-Davao is particularly emphasizing stronger surveillance, emergency communication systems and coordination with law enforcement agencies to improve the ability of schools to respond to security threats.
The renewed security push comes amid heightened national attention on school safety following a series of violent incidents involving schools in 2026, including the recent shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.
Following the Banga incident, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation and directed government agencies to examine how a minor was able to obtain a firearm and bring it into a school. The Department of Education also said additional security measures were needed.
DepEd-Davao had already been working on school safety measures before the latest regional audit. In July, the agency said schools were being directed to allocate funds for security measures, while local governments were being encouraged to assist with security guards and other safety requirements.
Earlier efforts also included coordination with peace and order councils, law enforcement agencies and communities to improve monitoring and security around schools.
Davao City has separately increased police presence around schools. During the opening of classes in June, the Davao City Police Office deployed 1,300 personnel across 444 public and private schools and established 198 Police Assistance Desks.
The latest DepEd audit provides a more detailed picture of the security resources currently available throughout the region.
While perimeter fencing is already widespread, the lower availability of CCTV systems, metal detectors, public address systems and police visibility indicates that schools do not have uniform access to the same level of security infrastructure.
DepEd-Davao’s continuing coordination with peace and order partners is therefore focused not only on increasing physical security but also on improving communication and response mechanisms.
With more than 1.3 million learners and thousands of personnel across the region, the challenge now is to close the remaining security gaps and ensure that safety measures are consistently implemented across schools in Davao.
The latest assessment gives authorities a clearer baseline for determining where additional resources, personnel and security equipment are most needed.
