DepEd postpones nationwide active shooter drill set for August 25

SIMULATION. The Department of Education conducts an active shooter drill at Manila Science High School on July 15, 2026.

Rappler

Medical groups had pushed for the postponement, saying that there is no evidence showing simulations can prevent attacks. Such exercises can also ‘cause lasting psychological harm.’

AT A GLANCE

• The Department of Education postponed a nationwide active shooter drill scheduled for August 25.
• Medical groups had raised concerns about the psychological impact of such an activity on students.

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MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) postponed the nationwide active shooter drill originally set in public and private schools for Tuesday, August 25, heeding the calls of some medical groups to defer the activity.

The planned activity was supposed to take place just a week after two students were killed in a shooting inside the Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s junior high school campus on August 18. One of the fatalities was the alleged shooter himself.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced the suspension of the activity in a radio interview with DZMM on Monday, August 24.

“Nakikinig kami sa eksperto at nirerespeto namin ang kanilang pananaw, and definitely, i-incorporate natin ang comments nila,” Angara said. (We listen to experts and respect their views, and definitely, we will incorporate their comments.)

“Wala namang mawawala sa atin kung mag-antay tayo ng [kaunting] panahon,” he added. (We won’t lose anything if we wait a bit more.)

Minutes after the interview, the DepEd sent its official advisory on the postponement to reporters. 

While it mentioned the bad weather and the suspension of face-to-face classes in several areas as its basis to put off the drill, the DepEd said the additional time would allow them to fully align the activity with recommendations from “disaster preparedness, child protection, and psychosocial support experts, particularly in ensuring that preparedness measures safeguard both the physical and psychological well-being of learners.”

The DepEd is eyeing to conduct the nationwide drill by the first week of September.

“The rescheduled activity shall remain age-appropriate and trauma-informed, focusing on basic protective actions, communication, coordination, accountability, and recovery. Schools shall avoid hyperrealistic or graphic simulations that may cause unnecessary fear or distress,” read the advisory.

The Philippine Psychiatric Association and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry were among those who called for the postponement, explaining that simulated active-attack exercises only “expose learners to hyperrealistic scenarios of violence.”

“Current evidence does not show that these simulations reduce casualties or prevent incidents, while multiple studies demonstrate that they can cause lasting psychological harm across age groups,” they said in a joint statement on Saturday, August 22.

Instead, the two medical groups recommended conducting tabletop exercises, where teachers, staff, and parents sit together and talk through “what if” scenarios.

In the meantime, the DepEd told its regional directors to coordinate with authorities regarding the deferral of the activity.

Schools were also reminded to ensure the availability of psychological first aid and psychosocial support.

The DepEd conducted its first active shooter drill at Manila Science High School in July to strengthen its safety protocols. This drill was done around three weeks after the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City, where three students were killed. – Rappler.com