Less than half of DepEd schools have CCTV cameras, security guards

MANILA — Less than half of around 47,000 public basic education schools nationwide have CCTV cameras and security guards, according to the Department of Education.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Roger Masapol told the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture that based on a recent security and safety audit, 49 percent of public schools have CCTVs, while 43 percent have security guards.

He noted that these figures were higher compared to the results of the June audit, which showed that only 36 percent of public schools had CCTVs and only 31.7 percent had security guards. Masapol said among the funding sources for CCTVs were the budget for school maintenance and operating expenditures, and from local government units.

He told the House panel that the P500-million budget for school safety and security in the proposed 2027 national budget would be used for procuring CCTVs, hiring security guards, and improving perimeter fences. Masapol estimated that by 2028, all schools would have CCTVs installed.

“We are targeting, at least ‘yung mga big school, by the end of this year, mayroon na silang naka-install na CCTV camera. ‘Yung small schools natin, maliit lang y’ung budget nila, doon sila pwedeng mabigyan ng funding sa na-approve ng Congress. Estimate ko po 100% by 2028 ‘yung schools natin. Tingin ko naman nag-step up ang LGUs dito sa requirements for CCTV,” Masapol said.

“Ang instructions namin sa schools, ilagay sa kung saan nandoon ang staff ng principal, para halos every hour may nakatingin sa CCTV… Critical na may tumitingin talaga sa CCTV,” he added.

A lawmaker sought guidelines for accountability on school personnel monitoring CCTVs in the campus to ensure that student privacy is protected.

“Mayroong instances na subject to abuse ‘yung CCTV cameras… Mayroon po ba tayong measures existing and in place na these people will be held accountable, or may accountability measures ba na ‘yung tumitingin sa CCTV ay trained, authorized, at responsible over the access to the CCTV. Kasi ang pinakakinakatakutan natin mangyari is magamit ‘yung CCTV as a way to invade the privacy of some of the students and personnel,” Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jan Almario Chan said.

“Wala pa kaming ganoon sa policy namin. But we will include that in the coming policy,” Masapol replied.

“Consult the National Privacy Commission,” Committee chairperson Roman Romulo advised the DepEd.

Asked about DepEd’s basis for determining the number of security guards needed per school, DepEd Dir. Dexter Pante said they considered the number of enrolled students. He explained that for small and medium sized schools, one security guard was recommended, while two guards were proposed for large schools and four guards for very large and extremely large schools.

“Hindi dependent sa number of entrance and exits?” Romulo asked.

“Wala pa kaming study on mga staffing standards for security guards. Later on, pag mayroon na tayong baseline, pwede na natin simulan yun, para ma-determine kung sapat ba yung current proposal,” Pante replied.

“Ang hinihiling ng committee na ito ng Kongreso ay ‘yung ideal per school, taking into account the different factors like ‘yung klima, ‘yung surroundings nung lugar. Baka naman medyo tensyonado ‘yung lugar. Dapat siguro mas marami. Depende sa number ng ingress, egress ng school. Wag naman sa isang factor lang,” Romulo said.

Of the 10,000 posts for school counselor associates, half have already been appointed, according to DepEd

“At the moment naka-kalahati na tayo for appointment, so ‘yung kalahati ay nasa iba’t ibang stages ng hiring process. ‘Yung iba ay na-review na ‘yung document nila, pero ‘yung entire hiring process hindi pa natatapos. Pero target namin within the year, ‘yung 10,000 ay ma-fill up natin,” Pante said.

DepEd said training was ongoing for teaching and non-teaching personnel on how to spot behavioral red flags among students. Child protection committees for schools are at “almost 100 percent”, according to the agency.