Following the fatal shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Pasig City Lone District Representative Roman Romulo has advocated for the temporary implementation of heightened safety protocols across educational institutions to help regain the trust of students, parents, and school staff.
Speaking during a television interview, Romulo—who serves as the chairperson of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture—explained that an immediate boost in physical security is essential for easing anxiety within the academic community.
“The way I see it, for now we need it, why? Because we have to restore confidence to our parents, teaching, non-teaching, students that our schools are safe,” Romulo said.
“And I think once they see that the protocols are strict… kahit papaano ‘yung confidence in going back to the physical school will be restored,” the lawmaker added.
However, the lawmaker emphasized that mandatory entrance inspections, such as bag checks, should serve merely as short-term fixes rather than permanent policy, warning that an overmilitarized environment could hinder the learning experience.
“We don’t want that for life. I mean a school is supposed to be a safe place for learning wherein you enjoy going there,” Romulo noted.
“Because it gives the wrong impression, you’re going into school and then your bags are being checked. But now we have to do that because we have to restore confidence, but I don’t think we should have this as a long-term solution,” he added.
To establish sustainable campus safety, Romulo urged stronger inter-agency collaboration between the Department of Education, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police.