Barangay tanods to patrol school vicinities under DepEd-DILG memorandum
A barangay watchman assists pupils of Caniogan Elementary School in Pasig City as they navigate the streets at the end of their classes for the day. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News MANILA — The Department of Education signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government on Wednesday to help monitor school safety, which primarily includes adding barangay tanods around school vicinities nationwide.
“Expanded role ng mga tanod in patrolling our schools and making sure na maayos at payapa ang ating mga eskwelahan…. We allow them to patrol our schools, to do visits, para mapakita rin nila paano makatulong yung barangay… dahil expertise nila is peace and order,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in an ambush interview.
Angara however clarified the tanods will not be stationed inside the schools but only around the vicinity, adding that they will be deployed “as soon as possible.”
“Not necessarily inside, doon lang sa, kasi we still have a no-arm zone yung ating eskwelahan. Pero pwede sila dun sa vicinity, sa labas, pag may butas yung pader, pwede sila, pwede lang tingnan yung mga weak points,” he explained.
Angara and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla arrived at the Bangkal High School in Makati on Wednesday to sign the Joint Memorandum Circular between the two agencies, together with Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay. Before the signing, they also observed a school safety drill.
Angara said school safety drills are now being implemented upon the advice of psychiatric associations, with no triggering hyperrealistic simulations that can affect students’ well-being.
“So dati, bago natin na kausap yung psychiatric, yung grupo ng mga psychiatrists, meron tayong real depiction, nagmimistulang attacker. Medyo tinigil na natin yun para hindi yun ang maalala ng mga bata…this is for safety, it’s not to disturb our youth,” Angara further explained.
On top of school safety drills and adding barangay tanods, DepEd said it is also in the process of hiring more school guidance counselors.
“Ongoing, malapit na, yung 5,300 (counselors) na-hire na, yung 4,000 plus in process na yung mga papeles nila…. At by the end of the year, tapos na yan.,” Angara said.
Angara also highlighted the importance of social media restrictions but said not all platforms should be banned for minors.
“Siguro make a blanket ban but except yung mga useful apps na nagagamit for learning like Khan Academy is used for learning,” he sa.