By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Nearly one in four public schools in Western Visayas is allegedly operating without dedicated security personnel, prompting education officials to seek assistance from local communities to help keep campuses safe.
The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 reported that around 25 percent of the region’s 2,840 public schools currently have no assigned security guards, mainly due to budget limitations.
To help bridge the gap, schools have been working closely with barangay officials and barangay tanods to maintain peace and order and ensure the safety of students, teachers, and other school personnel.
Regional education officials acknowledged that funding constraints have prevented the hiring of additional security staff despite the increasing need to strengthen campus security.
DepEd Region 6 said improving school safety remains one of its priorities and hopes to hire more professional security personnel once additional funding is released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The agency expressed optimism that increased financial support would enable more schools to deploy dedicated security guards, further enhancing the protection of learners and educators across the region.
Education officials also stressed the importance of maintaining a safe learning environment as schools continue reviewing and strengthening campus security measures in response to safety concerns raised in different parts of the country.
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