PRO-6 urges students to speak up, reject misinformation and help build safer campuses as schools strengthen preparedness against bullying, drugs and violent threats
ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Young people are being urged to become active partners in keeping schools safe as police in Western Visayas intensify efforts to prevent crime, respond to emergencies and address problems that can threaten students and school communities.
Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) Director Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño made the call during the 32nd Crime Prevention Week Celebration and Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) Capability Enhancement Training in Malay, Aklan, emphasizing that school safety cannot rest on police alone.
Tuaño encouraged students to strengthen leadership, discipline, responsibility and respect for the law, while remaining alert to issues such as bullying, illegal drugs, road safety and disaster preparedness.
“Prevention begins with awareness, good guidance, and the willingness to look out for one another.”
The initiative puts students in a more active role—not as replacements for teachers, parents or police, but as peer advocates who can promote responsible behavior, recognize potential problems and know when to seek help.
Youth Safety Watch takes center stage
One of the programs highlighted by PRO-6 is Youth Safety Watch, which encourages students to become positive influences within their schools and communities.
The initiative forms part of the continuing cooperation between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to strengthen school awareness, security measures and early intervention.
For police, early reporting can make a critical difference.
Students and parents are being encouraged to report safety concerns through appropriate school authorities or law enforcement rather than allowing potentially dangerous situations to escalate.
Authorities are also warning the public against spreading unverified information, which can create unnecessary fear and conflict inside school communities.
Police aren’t waiting for a crisis
The youth-focused campaign comes alongside a broader push by PRO-6 to improve schools’ emergency preparedness.
Earlier in August, Western Visayas police conducted eight simulation exercises in schools between Aug. 14 and 20 under preparations for School Year 2026–2027.
The exercises covered scenarios involving:
- Active shooters
- Bomb threats
- Stabbing incidents
- Hostage-taking
Police stressed that the drills were not triggered by a specific or imminent threat to schools. Instead, they were designed to test existing procedures, identify weaknesses and improve coordination among schools, police, emergency responders and other agencies.
Tuaño described the approach as “preparedness, not alarm,” with the goal of ensuring that students, teachers and responders know what to do if an emergency occurs.
Why school security has become a national concern
The heightened focus on school safety follows several serious incidents involving minors and schools in different parts of the Philippines.
The PNP and government agencies stepped up security reviews following the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where three students were killed and 20 others injured.
The government subsequently ordered a review of school security protocols, including stronger coordination between police, barangay officials and schools. The PNP also recommended measures such as controlling access points and strengthening anti-bullying policies.
Another fatal school shooting occurred in Zamboanga City in August, further intensifying calls for preparedness and stronger school-community coordination.
DepEd has also directed schools to develop or update contingency plans for active-attack incidents, including measures involving classroom security, evacuation routes, emergency communication and family reunification. The department emphasized that such preparedness activities should remain age-appropriate and trauma-informed, with attention to students’ psychological well-being.
Western Visayas takes a community-based approach
The latest police campaign does not rely solely on deploying more officers inside schools.
Instead, authorities are pushing a whole-community approach involving students, parents, teachers, police, barangay officials, local governments and emergency responders.
That strategy is consistent with the region’s broader emphasis on community participation in crime prevention.
PRO-6 previously reported a decline in crime incidents across Western Visayas in 2025, with total crime incidents falling from 20,590 in 2024 to 20,280 in 2025, while peace-and-order indicator incidents declined by 7.19 percent. Police attributed the improvement partly to intelligence-driven operations and stronger community partnerships.
More recently, PNA reported that Western Visayas continued to record relatively low crime levels during the opening “ber” months, although Tuaño cautioned residents to remain vigilant.
Safety also means protecting children beyond the classroom
The region’s youth-safety strategy extends beyond school gates.
In July, PRO-6 launched Oplan Sagip Bata, a road-safety initiative targeting risks faced by minors. Police reported that the program had rescued 1,312 minors since its launch as of Aug. 25, following concerns about vehicular incidents involving children.
The campaign illustrates the broader challenge facing authorities: protecting young people requires attention not only to violence inside schools but also to drugs, bullying, traffic dangers, misinformation and other risks affecting children.
The message to students
The latest call from PRO-6 is ultimately about giving students a role in their own safety.
Police are asking young people to stay informed, avoid spreading rumors, look out for classmates and seek help when something feels wrong.
Parents, meanwhile, are being encouraged to maintain open communication with their children and take concerns seriously.
For schools, the challenge is to create an environment where students feel comfortable reporting problems before they become emergencies.
And for police, the objective is clear: prevent incidents whenever possible rather than simply respond after something happens.
As Western Visayas observes Crime Prevention Week, authorities are betting that one of the strongest tools in preventing crime may already be inside every school—the students themselves.
The bigger question now is whether schools, families, police and communities can turn that awareness into lasting action.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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