Senators push community-based approach to school safety

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Monday pushed for a community-based approach to school safety as an alternative to live-shooter attack drills in schools, citing concerns over the drills’ possible impact on students.

During Monday’s Senate session, Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano brought the floor’s attention to the planned nationwide live-shooter attack drill, which the Department of Education (DepEd) postponed due to inclement weather.

“May I humbly recommend, anyway, they postponed it already, that instead of this drill, while it is being studied, a national day or half day be declared by the Palace or Malacañang or the president, wherein a community town hall be held in every school,” Cayetano said.

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He envisioned these as similar to “expanded parent-teacher association meetings” that would bring together parents, students, teachers, school officials, religious leaders, youth leaders, business leaders and other members of the community.

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READ: Psychiatrist groups seek deferral of DepEd’s live-shooter drills

Cayetano cited the joint position statement of the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (PSCAP).

“Basically, they’re saying that preparedness in schools is essential, but the methods chosen must be trauma-informed and grounded in evidence,” Cayetano said, explaining the joint statement.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian backed Cayetano’s suggestion, saying communities themselves were best positioned to understand the problems and influences affecting their children.

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READ: DepEd postpones nationwide active shooter drills

“I believe in the adage that it takes a village to raise a child,” the Senate president said.

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In her manifestation, Sen. Risa Hontiveros also cited the recommendations of the PPA and PSCAP, including calls to avoid hyper-realistic simulations, require advance notice, and involve school mental health professionals in planning for the drills.

“For example, instead of live simulations, schools could adopt tabletop exercises,” she added.

The psychiatric groups also proposed creating a joint mental health task group composed of the DepEd, Department of Health, and mental health specialty groups.

Basic education committee chairperson Sen. Bam Aquino also backed the proposed community-based approach, linking it to his proposed School Safety Act.

READ: PNP open to consultations on active school shooter drills

He said parents, student leaders, teachers and religious groups should all have defined roles in both prevention and response.

Aquino also said he would not be surprised if schools eventually conducted drills, but stressed that communities should first establish protocols and clarify the responsibilities of each sector.

Sen. Joel Villanueva also expressed his support for the statements of Cayetano, Aquino and Hontiveros.

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The discussion came after two school shootings in the country in less than two months, including the June shooting in Tacloban and the more recent incident in Zamboanga City this August. /mcm