IN A major bid to harden campus security, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) announced Wednesday that assistance desks are placed directly inside school grounds across the city.
Meanwhile, the DCPO said no bladed weapons were confiscated during the conduct of inspections.
The initiative, which deploys active officers and trainees past the school gates, aims to create an ironclad environment for students.
Speaking at the Davao Peace and Security press briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, July 1, DCPO spokesperson PMAJ Maria Teresita Gaspan outlined a strict, zero-tolerance approach to unauthorized campus access.
“We implement strict security measures,” Gaspan said. “No ID, no entry—including those visitors who will fetch [students]. We will inspect bags and limit the entry and exit gates to properly record everyone who enters the school.”
The security crackdown isn’t limited to public institutions. Gaspan clarified that private schools will be expected to enforce the same rigorous screening standards.
Under the new directive, every local police station is mandated to establish and maintain an internal assistance desk at the schools within its jurisdiction.
The strategy relies on a multi-layered police presence to support existing school defenses:
- Internal Police Desks: Stationed right inside the main gates to actively assist security guards with screening.
- Field Training Police (FTP): Apprenticing officers are being deployed to reinforce guards and streamline bag inspections.
- External Roving Patrols: Dedicated units will continuously cruise the perimeters of schools and nearby commercial establishments to deter outside threats.
By embedding law enforcement directly onto campus grounds, the DCPO hopes to provide an immediate deterrent to crime and offer rapid response capabilities right at the schoolhouse door.
