MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has proposed the creation of an inter-agency Joint School Safety Task Force alongside the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) following a fatal shooting incident at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd), the planned unit will focus on carrying out localized security risk evaluations and aligning safety strategies across educational institutions nationwide, responding directly to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s instruction to review existing campus protection measures.
Visiting the school site, Angara acknowledged that the education department must urgently enhance its readiness for gun-related violence, admitting that administrative focus had previously centered on student academic achievements.
“’Yung security measures, kailangan talagang paigtingin dahil hindi talaga kami handa sa mga ganitong shootings. Naka-concentrate tayo sa academic performance ng mga bata,” he said in a statement.
The education chief urged local government units and community members to collaborate with school leadership to strengthen campus defense, including providing financial resources for security personnel.
“Kailangang magsama-sama ang lahat ng komunidad dito, kabilang ang local government para sa pagpondo ng security guards,” he said.
Angara commended South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. and the provincial government for funding security staff at local schools. DepEd further appealed to barangay officials and local watchmen (tanods) to bolster police patrols around campuses lacking dedicated guards.
During his visit, Angara convened with educators, staff, families, local officials, and law enforcement to assess emergency responses.
He participated in debriefing sessions, inspected the campus, visited the wakes of the deceased, and checked on hospitalized survivors.
“No words can undo the grief and trauma felt by our families here in Banga. Our primary duty right now is care, providing real, sustained support to our learners, teachers, and personnel,” Angara said.
DepEd has deployed Psychological First Aid teams to assist traumatized students and personnel. Angara also emphasized the urgency of early mental health support, noting that psychological distress in youths can easily go unnoticed.
“Pati ang mental health ng ating mga kabataan ay apektado na rin. Paigtingin natin ang ating interventions dahil minsan hindi ito halata. Minsan sinasabi ng mga guro na magaling at walang problema ang bata, pero mayroon palang mga problema. Kaya hiring tayo ng School Counselor Associates para makatulong nang malaki,” he said.
Classes at Banga National High School are temporarily halted or transitioning to distance learning as authorities monitor the situation, deliver crisis assistance, and advance the police probe.
DepEd requested the public to respect the privacy of the grieving families and refrain from spreading unverified details online.