DAVAO CITY (August 21) — Davao City is ramping up school security measures following a deadly shooting at a private school in Zamboanga City that killed two learners, prompting local officials to move quickly to reinforce campus safety protocols.
The city’s Safety and Security Cluster—composed of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Public Safety and Security Office, and other agencies—met with the Department of Education (DepEd) on Aug. 18 to map out stricter preventive measures for schools.
Led by Schools Division Superintendent Reynante Solitario, DCPO Director Col. Peter Madria, and City Information Officer Harvey Lanticse, the meeting focused on tightening entry protocols, boosting threat awareness campaigns, and improving emergency response coordination with local government units.
Officials agreed to intensify security checks at school gates, expand anti-threat information drives, and streamline response systems to ensure faster action during emergencies.
Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte, through Lanticse, stressed that school safety must be anchored on prevention and deterrence, not reaction after incidents occur.
He also ordered the deployment of additional security personnel around schools citywide.
DepEd Davao Region data shows around 420 security personnel are currently assigned to public schools in Davao City.
‘No entry without inspection’
DepEd Davao Region spokesperson Jenelito Atillo said schools are now enforcing stricter entry rules, requiring all individuals to undergo inspection before entering campus grounds.
“No one is allowed inside without going through the security protocol. You have to submit yourself,” Atillo said during the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps briefing on Aug. 19.
“Whether you are a teacher, learner, or part of the school community, you must undergo inspection,” he added.
Officials said the tighter measures are meant to strengthen the first line of defense at school entrances and allow faster identification of potential threats.
The move comes as education and security officials across the region reassess school safety systems in the wake of the Zamboanga shooting, pushing for closer coordination between schools, law enforcement, and local governments.
