DILG, DepEd ink deal for safer schools

MANILA, Philippines — Strengthening safety measures for students and teachers, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Education (DepEd) signed an agreement on Wednesday, tapping barangay watchmen as augmentation forces in securing public and private schools.

The agreement, which seeks to establish coordinated school safety measures in the country’s 42,000 barangays, was signed by DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla and DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara at Bangkal National High School in Makati.

In the wake of recent school shootings, Remulla said a collective effort is necessary to protect students and teachers from violence.

“I cannot promise a perfect program, but I can promise that all of us will be together in finding a solution to this problem,” Remulla said.

Under the agreement, the DILG will provide technical assistance to local governments while the DepEd will extend policy guidance and capacity-building support to school division offices.

It also allows barangay watchmen to be deployed to public and private schools, academic institutions and DepEd-supervised community learning centers as an augmentation to security personnel.

Remulla said barangay watchmen or tanods are authorized to inspect bags, personal belongings and vehicles at school entrances.

In the absence of electronic scanners, the local peacekeeping officers can use non-contact methods.

Schools and local government units may also establish their own partnerships and even request assistance during security incidents.

Remulla noted how the internet has become a tool for child groomers to manipulate students to commit violent acts such as shooting schoolmates.

He said that through the internet, “children learn to change their ways of thinking, change their areas of focus and change their aspirations.”