THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the local government convened an emergency coordinating conference on Friday, July 3, to tighten school security measures.
The strategy session, spearheaded by DCPO chief PCOL Peter B. Madria at the Kapanalig Hall, was triggered by a recent active shooting incident in Tacloban City.
The meeting gathered school heads, local security officials, and social services representatives to establish an immediate, unified defense plan for campuses across the city.
Recognizing that schools must remain safe havens, Madria ordered an immediate escalation in tactical and visible deterrence.
The newly aligned strategy focuses on maximizing physical security controls, access points, and surveillance monitoring at all school entrances, as well as intensifying police patrols and static deployments around campus perimeters during peak arrival and dismissal hours.
He also directed the standardization of rapid-response drills specifically tailored for both bomb threats and active shooter scenarios.
Acknowledging the psychological toll of heightened security on young learners, the summit integrated DepEd’s psychosocial support frameworks directly into the tactical planning.
Furthermore, the DCPO is weaving its anti-bullying campaign under Oplan Kabilikat —which leverages Republic Act 10627 (Anti-Bullying Act) and Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act)—into the broader campus safety net.
Officials noted that tackling internal threats like severe bullying is an essential component of preventing escalation into extreme violence.
The conference concluded with the DCPO, DepEd, and the Davao City government signing off on a data-driven, shared-responsibility framework. By establishing direct communication channels between school administrators and law enforcement, the city aims to eliminate response delays.
“Through this unified strategic alignment, we are guaranteeing that Davao City schools remain secure,” Madria stated, emphasizing that campus defense is a matter of proactive vigilance rather than reactive panic.
