The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday that the National Simultaneous School Safety Drill will proceed on Thursday, following experts’ advice on its safe implementation.
“We are working closely with our medical experts and psychiatric societies to ensure our shared priority for the total well-being of our children remains at the center of our implementation,” Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara said in a news release.
“Our goal for September 3 is to build calm operational confidence and muscle memory through proper orientation, not fear,” he added.
DepEd initially scheduled the nationwide drill for August 25 but postponed it because of class suspensions and inclement weather. Medical and mental health experts have also urged authorities to move the activity to a later date, citing its possible impact on learners’ well-being.
Following the concerns raised, the agency said it is in continuous dialogue with health professionals, including the Philippine Psychiatric Association, the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Philippine Pediatric Society, in establishing safety protocols that make the activity child-centered and trauma-informed.
Participating schools will conduct capacity-building training for teachers, assess school readiness, and provide students with age-appropriate orientations before the exercise.
School heads will provide advance notice and written consent to students, teachers, staff, and parents before commencing the drill to prepare the participants psychologically.
Learners who may need additional safeguards may choose not to participate and will be offered alternative activities without repercussions.
“Every child has a different level of resilience and understanding, so we cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach to safety,” Mr. Angara said in Filipino.
During the drill, a distinct signal, different from those used for earthquake and fire alarms, will mark its commencement. Classes will then follow their practiced step-by-step protective actions, such as securing entry points, concealing silently away from windows, and evacuating.
Students will also practice a compliance posture by raising their hands high, empty, and visible when they encounter first responders during evacuation.
DepEd noted that the drill strictly bans all hyper-realistic or fear-inducing elements, including threat simulations, active aggressor role-players, bladed or blunt weapons, and other graphic elements like firearms, pyrotechnics, simulated gunfire, or artificial casualties.
Instead, the activity will focus on building procedural muscle memory through training and practice to avoid generating distress.
“Safety is not just about physical security; it is equally about protecting our children’s peace of mind,” Mr. Angara said. “Preparedness saves lives, and trauma-informed execution protects our learners.”
After the drill, designated guidance personnel and school health officers will provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) and post-drill debriefing sessions.
Schools will establish a clear referral arrangement with division offices, local government units (LGUs), and health clinics for those who may need specialized mental health care.
The nationwide drill comes after three students opened fire inside their school campuses in separate incidents in Zamboanga and Tacloban over the span of almost two months. — Almira Louise S. Martinez
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