The Department of Education (DepEd) has postponed the nationwide simultaneous school safety drill for active-attack incidents that was scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2026, citing unfavorable weather conditions and the suspension of face-to-face classes in several areas.
DepEd said the nationwide exercise will instead be conducted during the first week of September 2026, although a specific date has not yet been announced.
The postponement was first confirmed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara and subsequently detailed in an official DepEd statement. The department said the additional preparation time would allow authorities to further align the exercise with recommendations from experts in weather preparedness, disaster response, child protection and psychosocial support.
Why DepEd planned the nationwide drill
The exercise was designed to test how schools would respond to an active-threat or violent incident on campus, including emergency response, evacuation procedures and the reunification of students with their parents or guardians.
DepEd previously announced that public and private elementary and secondary schools nationwide would participate in the simultaneous exercise. The protocols were developed with concerned government agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The initiative came amid renewed concerns about school security following two deadly shooting incidents involving students in the Philippines.
School shootings intensified the safety debate
The planned drill followed a deadly shooting in Tacloban City in June, as well as another fatal shooting at a school associated with Ateneo de Zamboanga University on August 18.
The Zamboanga incident, in particular, intensified the national discussion over school security, firearms, social media and the protection of minors. Reuters reported that the Zamboanga shooting involved a Grade 8 student who fatally shot a fellow student before dying by suicide, with the incident reportedly livestreamed. Authorities have been examining issues including firearm access and online influences.
The incidents prompted calls for stronger preventive measures rather than relying solely on emergency drills.
Mental-health experts questioned realistic shooter simulations
The postponement also comes after psychiatric and child-health experts raised concerns about conducting highly realistic active-shooter exercises with students.
The Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry called for the postponement of the planned drills, arguing that available evidence does not establish that live-shooter simulations reduce casualties or prevent attacks.
The Philippine Pediatric Society likewise said evidence concerning children’s participation in active-attack and lockdown drills remains limited or mixed. The group recommended considering non-simulated preparedness activities while DepEd reviews its protocols.
DepEd has since emphasized that the revised exercise should prioritize both physical preparedness and the psychological well-being of learners.
DepEd orders schools to avoid hyper-realistic simulations
As preparations continue, DepEd also directed schools to avoid conducting hyper-realistic simulations that could unnecessarily distress students.
The Philippine News Agency reported that the department ordered schools to refrain from simulations that could be excessively realistic, reinforcing the need for age-appropriate and safety-conscious preparedness activities.
DepEd also reminded schools to ensure that Psychological First Aid and appropriate psychosocial support are available through their school contingency plans. Regional education officials have been instructed to coordinate with the DILG, PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection and other relevant agencies.
What happens next?
For now, schools are not expected to conduct the nationwide active-attack drill on August 25.
Instead, DepEd plans to use the additional time to refine the exercise and incorporate recommendations from specialists in disaster preparedness, child protection and mental health.
The nationwide drill is expected to proceed in the first week of September, but DepEd has yet to announce the exact date.
The postponement highlights a difficult balance facing Philippine schools: ensuring that students and teachers know what to do during a potentially dangerous incident while avoiding preparedness exercises that could cause unnecessary fear or psychological distress.
With school safety once again under intense national scrutiny, the September exercise will likely be closely watched—not only for how schools respond to an emergency, but also for how authorities balance security, preparedness and student well-being.
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