MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) will lead a nationwide school safety drill on August 25 as the government moves to strengthen preparedness and security in schools following recent incidents of violence, including a shooting inside a school in Zamboanga.
The nationwide exercise was confirmed during a Malacañang press briefing on August 19, with Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro saying the drill is intended to help schools become more prepared for possible emergencies.
Bombo Radyo reported that the drill will be spearheaded by DepEd and is aimed at strengthening security and ensuring that schools can respond quickly to potential acts of violence.
The move follows DepEd’s earlier launch of the National Safe Schools Summit and Safety Drill at Manila Science High School on July 15. The activity featured an active-shooter simulation, giving students, teachers, school personnel and law-enforcement authorities an opportunity to practice how to respond during a potentially life-threatening incident.
From pilot drill to nationwide preparedness
The July exercise marked a significant shift in the country’s approach to school safety.
According to the Philippine News Agency, the active-shooter drills are designed to equip students and school personnel with the knowledge needed to respond during a shooting incident. Police authorities are also expected to work with DepEd in conducting school-shooter simulations.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara has emphasized that the purpose of such exercises is not to create fear, but to make sure teachers, personnel and learners know what to do during emergencies.
During the National Safe Schools Summit, Angara stressed that keeping schools safe requires cooperation among DepEd, families, communities, local governments and other government agencies.
Security goes beyond drills
The nationwide exercise comes as DepEd continues to expand its broader school-security program.
In July, the department conducted a nationwide security audit covering around 43,000 public schools, while schools in different parts of the country have been strengthening measures such as visitor identification, security screening, coordination with barangays and law-enforcement agencies, and the use of metal detectors.
DepEd has also reinforced its policies against firearms, bladed weapons and other dangerous items inside school premises.
Meanwhile, the department’s new Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment, issued through DepEd Order No. 006, series of 2026, places greater emphasis on protecting learners while maintaining due process and a safe learning environment.
Not the same as the earthquake drill
It is important to distinguish the August 25 school safety drill from the country’s regular Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED).
For 2026, the NSED schedule includes September 10 for the third quarter and November 5 for the fourth quarter. DepEd regional offices have circulated the schedule to schools nationwide.
The August 25 exercise, meanwhile, is focused on school safety and emergency response, particularly in the context of security threats and violence.
Why the August 25 drill matters
For students and teachers, the exercise is more than a routine simulation. It is intended to test whether schools can respond quickly, calmly and systematically when an emergency occurs.
The July National Safe Schools Summit demonstrated how an active-shooter scenario can be used to familiarize school communities with emergency-response procedures. DepEd has also stressed that physical security must be accompanied by attention to learners’ mental and emotional well-being.
The nationwide drill on August 25 will therefore put the government’s broader school-safety push to a much larger test.
And with thousands of schools expected to participate, the biggest question now is not whether schools will conduct the drill—but how prepared they really are when the exercise begins.
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