ILOILO CITY — The nationwide active-shooter drill may have been postponed, but police security around schools in Western Visayas is not going away.
Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) said it will continue maintaining a visible presence in and around schools even after the Department of Education (DepEd) postponed the nationwide school safety exercise originally scheduled for August 25.
PRO-6 Director Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said police will continue working with schools and local government units to strengthen campus security and emergency preparedness.
The decision shifts the immediate focus from conducting a simulated attack to maintaining police visibility, reviewing security arrangements and ensuring that schools and responding agencies are prepared for emergencies.
“Our objective is preparedness, not alarm,” Tuaño said, emphasizing that the goal is to ensure schools and emergency responders understand their respective roles and can respond quickly and calmly during a crisis.
Why the nationwide drill was postponed
DepEd initially scheduled a nationwide active-threat safety drill for August 25. The exercise was designed to help schools practice emergency procedures during an active attack, including communication, lockdown, evacuation, accountability and coordination with responders.
However, DepEd postponed the exercise and moved it to the first week of September.
The postponement followed concerns raised by medical and child-psychology groups about the potential psychological impact of highly realistic active-shooter simulations on students. DepEd also cited the suspension of face-to-face classes in several areas because of bad weather.
The Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry had called for greater safeguards, arguing that school safety exercises should be age-appropriate and trauma-informed.
The Philippine National Police has since said it is willing to consult with concerned groups and work with DepEd to refine the drills. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said local police units are coordinating with school division officials to determine adjustments that can strengthen preparedness without causing unnecessary fear or distress among learners and teachers.
PRO-6: Security continues despite the suspension
In Western Visayas, the postponement does not mean schools are being left without additional security.
According to PRO-6, police officers will continue to be deployed around educational institutions, with the level of security adjusted according to the needs and preferences of individual schools.
Some schools have reportedly requested that police officers entering their campuses do so without firearms to avoid creating anxiety among students, while other schools have allowed armed officers as part of their security arrangements.
PRO-6 is also coordinating with local government units to strengthen police presence near schools.
The regional police command said school preparedness should not focus exclusively on shootings. Other threats—including bullying and incidents that could place students, teachers and school personnel at risk—also require attention.
That broader approach is significant because national authorities have been reviewing school security protocols following a series of violent incidents involving educational institutions.
Security review follows deadly school attacks
The nationwide push for stronger school security intensified after the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where three people were killed and 20 others were injured.
The incident prompted the PNP to review existing school security protocols and consider measures such as tighter control of school entry and exit points, improved coordination among police, schools, barangays and local governments, and emergency-response training.
The issue gained renewed urgency after another shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City on August 18, where two students died, including the alleged teenage shooter. The incident further intensified calls for schools to reassess their security and emergency-response procedures.
Police visibility has consequently been increased in and around schools in several parts of the country.
In Western Visayas, PRO-6’s continued presence is intended to serve both as a deterrent and as reassurance for students, teachers and parents.
What happens next?
The nationwide safety exercise is now being eyed for the first week of September 2026, with September 3 mentioned as a tentative date in the PRO-6 report. However, the final schedule remains subject to further evaluation and coordination.
The PNP has said the postponement provides an opportunity to improve the way the drills are conducted, including adopting approaches that are less traumatic while still teaching students and school personnel what to do during a real emergency.
Meanwhile, PRO-6 is keeping officers visible around schools.
The message from authorities is clear: the drill may be on hold, but school security is not.
For students and parents across Western Visayas, the bigger question now is not simply when the next drill will happen—but how schools and authorities will balance emergency preparedness with the psychological well-being of the children they are trying to protect.
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